(J CAPERC A1LLIE.
three or four drives were made, with the result thai might naturally have been expected, and only a fowhens
passed within sight of my stations, not n single cock bird coming in view while I remained on the
lull. On the return or Ihc heaters, I ascertained that they had discovered a couple of old males lighting
desperately in an open space in the densest part of the fbfuat, and had run in and attempted to capture
them. If these thoughtless individuals had only watched the conlliet and sent one of their number off
to give information, both birds might have boon procured, as I was not more than a quarter of a mile away,
and their battles frequently last a considerable lime I learned in Duukeld that two fine old cocks had
liecu caught by some labourers on the highroad, where they were picked up almost entirely disabled,
having fought (ill both combatants were incapable of making an efibrt to escape The same men were
awaiting my arrival on the 22nd, and we agreed, after one or two drives, that I should try to obtain a
shot by going quietly through some parts of the woods not yet disturbed. The weather was now flue
and clear, and at the first drive about fifty birds passed over, one third of the number being cocks; not
one of the latter, however, came within range. Just at the conclusion of the second drive, which was
also a failure, I happened to catch a glimpse, through an opening in the forest, of an old cock alighting
in one of the largest larches in the forest. Here he remained perfectly motionless drawn close up to
the massive stem, and although one of the beaters passed below and actually struck the tree with his
stick, the bird took not the slightest notice. As he seemed likely to stop some time, I called all the men
together just within sight of him, giving directions for them to keep moving about and getting their lunch
ready so as to draw Ins attention. I then started off, picking my way carefully down one gully and
stalking with the utmost caution up another, which led right below the tree he laid seloeted, and having
taken the bearings correctly there was no necessity to look up till well within range As I expected,
he was now inteutly regarding the actions of the group of heaters, and the first intimation of my approach
that he received was a charge of No. 1 shot, which brought him as dead as a stone to the roots of the
tree. On examination he proved to be a fine old bird, slightly cut about the head by fighting, but by
no means damaged as a specimen. Capered I lies are stated to be remarkably tough and strong, requiring
a severe wound to disable them ; and this I can readily believe, as a fine old male I fired at while posted
for a drive on the summit of a ridge or rocks at least three hundred feet ia height, fell as if struck lifeless
to the foot of the cliffs among large blocks of stone, and still retained sufficient vitality to flutter away
mid escape when one of the beaters deseeudod to bring him hack". I should have imagined that the
force of the fall idone would have been sufficient to break every hone in his body, as he pitched down
apparently killed by the effects of the charge of shot. On the following day, the 2Ilrd, our number
of boaters was considerably reduced, and while proceeding along the ridge or the hill at the summit of
Logier.iit I was enabled to ascertain the damage caused by the large Hooks of Caperoaillie. On over
half a mile of the fore-t the whole of the young shoots of the Scotch firs were eaten off and destroyed,
the trees being apparently utterly ruined. I learned from the keepers that in winter, when the ground
was covered with snow, these birds occasionally collect into immense bodies in this locality, ond that it
was at this time the greatest amount of mischief was done to the young trees. Just ns we reached the
Cnldores. from whom I forraeily hired the ahoolinK. of Innerwick in Olenlym, ti.pp.nwl to 1» driving along tho road near Logierait and
,„„,. M m a n v m a I 1 prcp^d f„r hhoodnj at lbi« we hail pulled up in order lo ueeituii what «1 intended to 1» .lone. On being informed
Ihey were .waiting my mirJ to assist in obtaining some specimens of Caperoaillie. he let thorn know at once that I only required birds ahot by
my own gun. The 1 Ill I III I they lu.il brought were then imm^iately token BWt to tho Inn at Logier.il and no sign' of lie mistake ibat
had ottlirH n U be detect*! on my arrival, rJJ the men being protided with the strong heavy sticka commonly used for healing.
• 1 invariably proceed mywlf, with both barrel, charged, to piek up a valuable apocimen that hue fallen if it appe.r. Bounded, bat in thii
CAPERC AILLJ E.
end of the ridge a single femnle Caperoaillie was put up by one of the beaters and passed overhead at
a oonsiderable height; not wishing, however, to lose a chance, I fired a shot, and the bird was seen to turn
over and fall headlong over the precipice into the large fir-wood on the slope of the hill towards the northeast.
That we should find her seemed extremely doubtful, as a long circuit had to he taken to ranch ihc spoi
on which she was supposed to have dropped aud the ground was littered by broken limbs of trees and
thick undergrowth. On reaching the spot we bad marked where the bird disappeared from sight, a careful
search was commenced aad almost immediately she was discovered lying spread out on a bare patch where only
the dead spines of the pine trees covered the soil. As this completed the pair of CapereaiUie, our work
was now at an end, and, after calling tho whole of our men together, we rested for a time in a shellcred
gully on the hill-side, and after lunch I made my way hack to Duukeld, well satisfied with the result of
the three days spent on the slopes of the hill of Logiernit and also with tho attention I had met with
from the keepers, foresters, aud beaten of the district.