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CAPERCAILLIE. 
rETRAO UROGALLUS. 
The few remarks I give concerning the last survivors of our native Capercaillies and the introduction of 
foreigners from Norway and Sweden, with the reports as to how they flourished in their new quarters, 
are taken from ‘The Capercaillie in Scotland,’ a work lately written by Mr. J. A. Ilarvie-Brown, which 
contains an immense amount of valuable information concerning this species. 
The final extinction of the original stock of this species may be considered to Itave taken place about 
the year 1760. There have been, however, several other records of a considerably later date that are 
supposed to he properly authenticated. While engaged in making observations in the Highlands, in 
Strath Glass and the adjoining glens in Inverness-shire, a few years Ijack, I found the keepers asserted 
that this district had been the last stronghold of the native breed of the Capercaillie*. The cause of 
tlieir disappearance is somewhat strange when all things are considered ; immense fir- woods cover the 
slopes of most of the rugged hills in this locality, which appears in every respect suitable to supply all 
their requirements as to food and shelter, and render them almost entirely free from persecution. Possibly 
tlm birds could not procure their proper food among these stupendous pines, as I remarked in the woods 
on Logierait Hill, m Perthshire, that they appeared to prefer the young Scotch-fir trees, of about eight 
or ten feet in height, off which they nibbled the topmost shoots and put an end to all chance of further 
growth. There is one question respeeting this species to he considered which may not strike those who 
have not thoroughly examined their haunts. Did the birds in former days consume or destroy all the 
young sprouting shoots of the small-growing trees on which they fed and then perish from want of 
sustenance, or were the owners of the forests exasperated on detecting the tops of their youno- fir trees 
that were progressing favourably torn to pieces and ruined, and then attempted to mend matters hv 
making a general clearance of the depredators? ^ 
As to the restoration of the Capei-caillie in tliis country it is stated that betn-een 1837 and 1839 
numbers uere brought from Sweden and turned out about Taymouth and a few near Dunkcld. In 1803 the 
bmds m tlm woods on the Taymouth estate were estimated to be nearly two thousand in number tlmy 
increased rapidly all along the valley of the Tay as far as Dunkcld, where the nature of tl ’ J 
WWS most suitable to their habits-tho proprietors on whose estates tiey had hi ou ftirD 7 
o Athol and Lord Breadalbane) having liad immense quantities of larch, Scotch fir. and spruce planted 
None have been seen since that time.’ This date would be placed at from 1819 to 1829 lZ2o if 
but have not received any up to the date of going to press” This seems tn i’ i l ^ exact dates, 
Mr^Harvie-Bpn appears doubtful as to the whereabouts of Struy, which is siZte/rse to ^^ 0 ! cirit^re V' 'Ts '' 
in Invernc-shire. in the vicinity of which I have often collected and also been in communication with sevei^Uf Ihe Wp^^" 
