THE CAPERCAILLIE. 
33 
of great importance — they should have also a heap of fine sand to dust them- 
selves in. 
“ They will eat nearly all kinds of grain, particularly wheat, barley, and white 
peas ; of the last they are particularly fond. 
“ They ought to be well provided with boughs of the Scotch fir. They eat heather. 
Give them occasionally turf ; with green food — as berries, cabbage leaves, &c., — but 
should their mutings appear washy, desist altogether for a time. 
“ Do not over-feed them : fifty birds die from repletion, for one from starvation. 
“ If any bird appears to mope or become sicldy, remove him directly, more par- 
ticularly if in a confined place ; the healthy birds will otherwise molest him, and 
prevent his feeding, &c. &c.” 
In Scotland, ttie last native specimen of the wood grouse was stated, 
in 1842, “ to have been killed in the neigbourhood of Inverness more 
than sixty years since.”* From that period not a single individual 
was met with, even in the most remote and least frequented of the 
Highland forests. Of late years, however, many of the Scottish hills 
having been wisely clad, by their proprietors, with extensive plantations, 
the species has been introduced from the north of Europe with success, 
and about Taymouth, more particularly, has been increasing as in the 
olden time. A very fine male bird (shot there by Prince Albert in the 
autumn of 1843) which came under my notice in Edinburgh, was as 
large and fine as any of the numerous specimens from Sweden and 
Norway, whieh for many years past I have seen in the shops of the 
London game dealers. At Lord Orkney’s aviary, in connexion with 
the gamekeeper’s house, Glenapp, Ayrshire, I saw a number of these 
birds in September 1843. A brood of nine was reared there that 
season, and were all fine healthy birds, almost of adult size. The 
average number of eggs laid by several hens of this species at Taplow 
Court, his lordship’s seat in Buckinghamshire, was sixteen ; and 
many young birds were brought out there, but they generally fell 
victims to a particular disease, the nature of which I do not 
remember. 
It is interesting to have the opportunity, as visitors to the Zoo- 
logical Gardens, Eegent’s Park, London, now have, of witnessing the 
attitudes which are assumed by the male capercaillie, when he wishes 
to display himself to the best advantage, and attract the favour of the 
female. “ His neck (to use Mr. Lloyd’s words) is stretched out, his 
tail raised and spread like a fan, his wings droop, his feathers are 
* Jardine, Brit. Birds, vol. iii. p. 79. 
VOL. II. 
D 
