CAPEIICAILLIE. 
considered safe, as they are too high for the birds to x’each the terminal shoot from the ground, and the 
young upper hranehes and leaders are too young and tender to bear the weight of the bird. Becoming 
older still, the terminal shoot lengthens beyond the reach of the Capercaillie when it stands upon the 
side shoots. It was further stated that the trees, in consequence of this treatment when young, were 
delayed in their growth, and that many were destroyed and rendered useless.” 
The foregoing quotation from ‘ The Capercaillie in Scotland ’ gives another reason for the deterioration 
of the Scotch fir in the Highlands. 
“ There seems to be eonsiderable diversity of opinion amongst those inimical to the Capercaillie as 
to the ages of the wood attacked. On the other hand, I have the following opinion from Sir Bobert 
Menzies, which I quote in full: — ‘Neither do I blame them for being destructive to the plantations, a 
fault that is frequently found with them, and in consequence of which they are shot down. So far as 
my experience goes they do not injure newly planted young trees in the same way that Blackgame do, 
as they will not go to a plantation where there are no trees they can roost upon ; they will not pick 
out the tops while standing on the ground, and it is not till the trees in a plantation are somewhat 
grown that the Capercaillies settle in it, and then, as they are heavy birds, it is only the side shoots they 
can get at, as the top shoot is not strong enough to earry them. I am of opinion that it is no fault of 
the Capercaillies that the plantations of Scotch fir are found not to do well, but that a very bad sort of 
that tree is now sold out of the nurseries that will never become trees ; plants that do not make a leader 
like the true Scotch fir, but, on the contrary, have no stem, and abound in branches, both above and 
below. This sort of Scotch fir is an importation from the Continent, now of some years’ standing, and 
young plants are now sold as ‘true natives’ that are seedlings taken from trees originally growm from 
this imported seed. When these are not found to be doing well the Capercaillie is blamed ; but I 
think it is the seedsman Avho is in fault, and more care should be taken to see that the young Scotch- 
fir plants are of the right sort, when the plantation will be found to do well enough, though there are 
a good many Capercaillies in it.’ ” 
From my own experience I can say nothing as to whether the Capercaillie ever attacks the small 
plants of the Scotch fir, but I have seen and carefully examined the manner in which the trees, between 
five and ten feet in height, have had their leaders cut or broken and the uppermost branches and twigs 
bent down, torn to pieces, and trampled on, while large flocks of these birds have been either feeding 
or resting and basking in the rays of the sun. 
While exploring various parts of the Northern Highlands in the spring of 1878, I obtained 
permission from Duncan, who rented the Kinnaird shootings near Dunkeld, in Perthshire, from 
the Duke of Athol, to obtain some specimens of Capercaillie. Leaving Inverness on the 17th of April, 
Dunkeld was reached the same evening; but for several days the weather was most unpropitious] 
blusterous squalls of wind, rain, and sleet followed one another in rapid succession. On the 20th, 
though dull and foggy, there was a slight improvement, so a start was made and I drove over to Logierait,' 
where Mr. Duncan’s men, together with the keepers and foresters from several of the adjoining shootings 
and a number of beaters, were found waiting to drive the woods for the Capercaillie. It was, of course 
almost hopeless that one gun could obtain a shot at birds when driven in these large woods, where about 
fourteen guns are usually required to hold all the passes. Stalking quietly through the dense cover 
would have been my best chance of success, and I had only anticipated being met by two or three 
keepers*. As so many beaters had, however, been brought together, I gave in and submitted to the 
usual routine. During the day, which turned out somewhat unsuitable, the air being thick with mist. 
intent- ^ the keepers and foresters, ^-hen first assembled to await my arrival, were carrying guns with the 
:ntentmn of ass.stmg to procure the specimens required. It appears that Mr. Menzies of Teurenie, who was factor for his brother, i Menzies of 
