15 



CAPEECAILLIE. 



COCK OF THE WOODS. WOOD GROUSE. 

 CEILIOG COED, OF THE ANCIENT BPJTISH. 



Tetrao vrogallus, .... Lurir^us. 



Tetro murium ..... Temmixck. 



Tetrao — A Bustard. Vrogallus, from Vrus — A Buffalo, and Gallus — A Cock. 



This magnificent and lordly bird was, when Great Britain and Ireland were more 

 heavily timbered than at the present day, an abundant inhabitant of both countries, and, 

 although, as the inhabitants increased, and the wood diminished, it gradually became more 

 and more rare, till at length the breed became extinct; in Ireland, somewhere about 1760, 

 till which date it lingered in the woods of Tipperary; and in Scotland about the year 

 1780, when the last was killed near Inverness. Still there is now every reason to expect 

 that its very judicious and spirited introduction into their woods, by some of our largest 

 landed proprietors, which has of late years taken place, will be abundantly successful, 

 and that its very peculiar cry may again be not uncommonly heard in all our extensive 

 plantations. 



The history of its recent re-introduction into these islands is one of so much interest 

 that we must not pass it over cursorily. The first atttempt at again introducing this 

 fine bird into this country was made in the end of 1827, or beginning of 1828, by Lord 

 Fyfe. One pair was brought from Sweden, and the attempt was made at Mar Lodge, 

 to naturalize them ; it however failed, owing to the death of the hen bird immediately on 

 her arrival in the country. The male bird paired with a barn-door fowl in 1828, and 

 one hybrid chicken was produced, but was found dead soon after its exclusion from the 

 egg. In January, 1829, another pair was imported, and in April the hen commenced 

 laying, and laid altogether about two dozen eggs. Many of these she broke and eat, 

 but eight were secured, and placed under a common hen; but one bird was produced, 

 and it soon died. The next year the Hen Capercaillie laid eight eggs; one of these she 

 broke, and sat on the others for five weeks, but they were all addled. 



