BIRDS. 



281 



the tenant in and after the year 1896. One hot summer, that of 1887, 

 was a trying one for the birds, and only 6J brace were killed that 

 season; fresh blood was again introduced, and "in the latter end of 

 November nine hen birds were procured from Kirkcudbrightshire, 

 which, being taken to the moor, the basket and its custodian were 

 surrounded by lustily crowing cocks before even the captives were 

 set at liberty. The cold summer which followed in 1888 prevented 

 the results of this new blood being apparent for some time, . . . but 

 in 1889 the bag (19 J brace) was again practically up to the average 

 of recent years." 



Mr. Berry concludes his most interesting history by saying: 

 "The Grouse may now be considered as thoroughly acclimatised on 

 Tents Muir," etc. . . . and " the Tents Muir Grouse and their fortunes 

 in the future will be perhaps as much the inimediate concern of the 

 sportsman as of the naturalist ; but it is from the point of view of 

 the latter only, so far as possible, that I have attempted to give their 

 history in the past. Others may, I trust, be interested to learn some 

 of the details of this experiment in practical ornithology which the 

 late Admiral Maitland Dougall so shrewdly undertook, and, with the 

 able assistance of his gamekeeper, Mr. John Fowlis, so successfully 

 carried out." 



In conclusion, I would like to add that by the kindness of Mr. 

 Berry I had an opportunity of participating in a Grouse drive 

 upon Tents Muir one day in 1897, on which occasion the bag was 

 17J brace to four guns. It was a new experience to me, as also 

 to my friend Mr. J. R. W. Cook, with whom I drove over from St. 

 Andrews to join the party. I had never seen this northern portion 

 of Tents Muir before, though I had been long acquainted with the 

 more southern parts of it, so the ground and all the conditions were 

 new and delightful to me, even though suffering all day from an 

 attack of asthma and its effects, which the drifting sand did not 

 improve ! 



Millais has in his collection white, pied, blood-red, jet-black, and 

 one lavender-coloured variety of Red Grouse. 



Tetrao tetrix, L. Black Grouse. 

 Abundant. Resident. Breeds. 



There is a curious statement in the old Statistical Account (vol. vi., 

 1793, p. 361) that Blackgame are " said to have appeared seven years 

 ago— say 1786— on Little Dunkeld, P. of Perth." This statement 

 was given by the Rev. J. Robertson, the writer of the account. 



