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BOOK NOTICE. 



not till October that they are in full feather, when the eocks are well 

 able to take care of themselves, but the hens can scarcely be said 

 ever to get very wild. An old cock on the wing has a very close 

 resemblance at some distance to a Velvet Scoter. 



While Grouse cling to the heather, Black-game may be found in 

 September in boggy patches on the moors, in spots spangled with the 

 pretty flowers of the Grass of Parnassus, and amongst rushes, on the 

 seeds of which they partly feed. When flushed they fly up wind, 

 whilst Grouse, as a rule, fly down wind. It is a curious fact that 

 Black-game are not found in Ireland, although many attempts have 

 been made to introduce them. Small and isolated colonies of the 

 old indigenous race exist in several localities in England, and Scotch 

 birds have been turned out as a cross, but notwithstanding this, and 

 careful preserving, they are gradually diminishing. 



That magnificent game bird, the Capercaillie, became extinct in 

 the north of Scotland soon after the commencement of this century."^ 

 They were introduced again in 1836 from Norway, by the second 

 Marquis of Breadalbane, at Taymouth, and since this period have 

 extended to many districts in the north, such as are best adapted to 

 their habits; they feed chiefly on the shoots of the pine, also on 

 various berries. An old cock on the wing, with a bright sunshine 

 lighting up his plumage, is a noble sight. The cocks, when driven a 

 few times, get very wary, and will soar above the woods for a long 

 time, higher almost than any other game-bird. 



In chapters iii and iv the whole subject of deer-stalking and deer- 

 forests has been exhaustively treated by Lord Lovat, and many 

 interesting facts are recorded in connection with the habits of the 

 Deer. Deer, it is known, shed their horns towards the middle of 

 March or in April. It is a curious fact, which we have often heard 

 keepers remark upon, how seldom these cast antlers are found in the 

 forest ; their scarcity being probably due to the habit, both of the 

 stags and hinds, of gnawing and eating them; they will also gradually 

 gnaw away any other bones they find. 



It has often been stated that each year adds two points to a head, 

 but this, Lord Lovat says, is a mistake ; some heads never have more 



* Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown, in some further additions to the Appendix 'Caper- 

 cailhe in Scotland,' speaking of the former extension of this species into England, 

 and quoting from the review of his book, says : — 'We have met with old grants 

 (circa 1343-1361) of land in the county of Durham, held by the i&nvLre,inier alia, 

 of paying ' one wode-henne yerely ' to the Bishop of Durham for the time being, 

 indicating pretty clearly the ' Ceiliog Coed ' or Capercaillie. 



Mr. James Backhouse, of York, has discovered numerous bones of this species 



in caves in the mountain limestone of Teesdale, so that there can be no doubt it 



was at one period a common species in the North of England. : — 



Naturalist, 



