320 BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
which conduct us to its stiU more frequent haunts in Scot- 
land There it is abundant, and may be found m most ot 
the districts which are suited for it, extending north to 
Sutherland, and to the islands of Mull and Skye. He 
writes in 1851 : " It is a pretty general opmion, though an 
erroneous one, that they drive away the Red Grouse ; the 
two species require very different kinds of cover, and will 
never interfere."t „ ^, , 
On October 4th, 1869, the largest bag of Blackgame ever 
shot in a single day was obtamed at Glenwharne 
(Erkconnel). The eleven guns on this memorable occasion 
were H R.H. Prince Christian, Count Hompesch, Duke ot 
Buccleuch, Viscount Marsham, Lord William Thymie Lord 
George Hamilton, Lt.-Col. Gordon, Lt.-Col. Thynne 
Hon William Home, Lord Walter Scott, and Edward 
Balfour The actual bag was five grouse, two hundred 
and forty-seven Blackgame, twenty-one Partridges, one 
Pheasant; forty hares, two rabbits. The Glenwharrie total 
has never been surpassed, and the followmg extracts from 
the Drumlanrig game-books show how plentiful this species 
was in Upper Nithsdale about that period :— 
1870. -Ootober 14th .. Glenwharrie (Kirkconnel .. 144 Blackgame. 
Do Do. 21st .. Eliock (Sanquhar) •• 148 
1871. -October 18th .. Glenwharrie (Kirkconn^^^ 47 Do 
Do Do. 19th .. Barr Mmr (Kirkconnel) .. Hi ^o. 
Do' Do. 20th .. Todholes and Tower .. 136 Do. 
(Kirkconnol) 
Richard BeU of Castle O'er states that the late J ohn Wilson, 
shooting in Eskdalemuir, once kiUed eighteen Blackgame at 
a shot. He stalked one sittmg on the top of a stone dyke, 
which was joined by a large flock, and he fired 3ust as they 
were settling ' heids and thraws,' that is, with their heads 
looking in different directions, with the result mentioned.t 
Since about 1870, a steady decrease must be recorded 
for which it is not altogether easy to account. The bird 
was formerly m considerable numbers on the Loohar 
* Nat. Lib., 1842, Vol. XII., p. 85. 
t Nat. Hist. Selborne, 1851, p. 27. 
I My Strange Pets, p. 182. 
