BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 317 
was made by placing eggs from the same source in a 
Pheasants nest at Kirkland (Kirkconnel) but the eees 
were destroyed by Crows." I have been unable to obtahi 
any further mformation as regards the specimen aUeged to 
have been shot in the Scaur valley ; at any rate, the intro- 
duction of the species thus failed, and there have been, as 
locaU ' °° experiments to introduce the species 
Mr. Frederick Villiers writes me : " One day coming 
home from shooting, and passing by Criohope Linn (Close- 
burn) we saw what I believe was a Capercailhe cock I 
fancy it was in November, 1882 or '83, but I really do not 
remember." Mr. R. Greaves, who is acquainted with 
CapercaiUie m Perthshire, told me he saw a male and two 
females on Appin (Tynron) in November, 1905. He tried 
to stalk them, but they rose when just out of shot, and 
new off m a northerly direction. 
This species has flourished since its re-introduction to the 
Highlands in 1837, and is extending its range so consistently 
that Its occurrence in the county is not unexpected. Whether 
It would be altogether welcome as a resident is questionable. 
It IS stated to be "injurious in nurseries and cultivations of 
conifers m winter and spring by biting off buds and young 
shoots ; It also damages birch buds and cones, the cock 
being more injurious than the hen. But it also does good 
by destroying insects, and its value for sport and food must 
discount any damage it does."* Capercaillie and Black- 
game are not believed to live together in peace and harmony 
and the claims of the Capercailhe as a sporting and edible 
bird are perhaps over-rated in the above quotation, while 
Its powers of destruction to plantations are not. To the 
bird-lover its addition to our avi-fauna may seem desirable 
but m a county so much given to afforestation as Dumfries- 
siiire, I fancy any one who established the Capercaillie 
m our midst would be regarded in much the same spirit 
as tne man who introduced the rabbit into Australia. 
* Science Progreta, 1907, Vol. 11., p. 281. 
