The Capercaillie 5 
slaughter the hens, whereas, to my mind, Caper hens should be treated like greyhens 
and spared." Lord Breadalbane kindly furnishes me with particulars of the number 
of Capercaillie now resident between Killin and Aberfeldy. The estimate of his keepers 
is "about 760 birds." 
All along the main valleys of the Tay and Earn, and also in the Forfarshire 
woods, especially about Fotheringham, Capercaillie are abundant. I have seen several 
in a wood close to the sea near St. Andrews, and once saw one crossing the Firth 
of Tay at a point at least five miles wide. In 1892 I saw the first hybrid 
black grouse and Capercaillie killed near Nairn, a sure forerunner that the female 
Capercaillie were pushing westwards from Aberdeenshire. Shortly afterwards I heard 
of two females being killed near Fort George, where now they are established in the 
woods. They have extended westward past Inverness, and have reached the valley 
of the Beauly. A member of the Lovat family informs me that there are now about 
thirty Capercaillie in the Beaufort woods, and that they will be carefully protected. 
Capercaillie were introduced into Arran from Taymouth in 1843, and were abundant 
there in the seventies, but since that date they have much decreased. It will not 
be far distant when these birds will frequent all woods in Scotland which are of a 
suitable size. 
There is not the least doubt that the Capercaillie could be successfully introduced 
into many parts of England and Wales, as many localities are, owing to afforestation, 
as well suited to its habits as in former times. This is proved by the fact that the 
only attempt on a generous scale, that of the Duke of Bedford at Woburn, has met 
with success. 
Her Grace the Duchess of Bedford has kindly sent me the following particulars of 
the introduction of Capercaillie to Woburn : " 1897 — 9 cocks, 30 hens ; 1898 — 2 hens ; 
1901 — 32 cocks, 68 hens ; 1904 — 13 cocks, 10 hens ; 1907 — 7 cocks, 14 hens ; 1908 — 
6 cocks, 32 hens; total, 70 cocks and 156 hens. Many of the imported birds probably 
died soon after being turned out, and doubtless some fell victims to foxes when still 
weak after their journey. A few blackgame and Capercaillie have been shot by our 
neighbours at Tingrith and Brickhill. At Stockgrove, where at all events hen birds 
are preserved by our neighbours, the birds have done very well. In our own woods 
a few nests are found every year, and one year five nests (of Capercaillie and greyhen) 
have been hatched off, but the woods are very large and it is difficult to estimate 
whether they increase in number. All the imported birds come from Hagenbeck." 
Habits. — As a general rule Capercaillie, within their present range in Scotland, like 
to frequent large woods of larch, spruce, and Scotch fir, and for preference those situated 
on hillsides, as the birds on fine days are very fond of sitting on the tops of trees and 
enjoying the morning and evening sun in such a position that a wide view may be 
obtained in all directions. On clear days in winter they may be seen in small parties 
in such situations, and are then most difficult to approach. It must not, however, be 
considered that these large fir woods are their invariable habitat. Numbers in autumn, 
spring, and winter make short local migrations to low-lying woods of oak, birch, and 
larch, where for a short season they are plentiful. Most of these, especially the old 
males, return to high ground in late autumn and spring, leaving only a few females 
