THE INTRODUCTION OF GROUSE TO THE TENTSMUIR 201 



cudbrightshire, which, being taken to the moor, the basket 

 and its custodian were surrounded by lustily-crowing cocks, 

 before even the captives were set at liberty. The cold, wet 

 summer of 1888 which followed prevented the results of this 

 new blood from being apparent for a time : only one covey 

 worthy the name was to be found when the shooting season 

 again came round, though the game list of this year is 

 otherwise interesting from its also containing the entry of 

 one or two sand-grouse, large flocks of which bird frequented 

 the moor, and the sandy arable country which adjoins it, at 

 all events from May to November. In 1889 the bag 

 192" brace was again practically up to the average of recent 

 years. 



Upon the death of the proprietor in 1890, the shootings 

 of Scotscraig were let to Sir Walter Corbet, Bart, and later 

 to the present writer, in whose hands they have since re- 

 mained. A regular system of driving was instituted, there 

 being as yet no driving-butts, the guns concealed themselves 

 as they could among the sand-hills, and although large totals 

 were neither expected nor secured, a proper thinning of the 

 old cocks was thus brought about ; these, in magnificent 

 plumage, being especially conspicuous in the various bags, 

 amounting to a little over 30 brace. In the following spring 

 several lines of butts were erected, and a scheme of drives 

 arranged. Very active measures were also undertaken 

 against the marauding crows upwards of 40 being killed, 

 and their nests diligently sought for and destroyed ; while 

 the watchers were able at the same time to hold the egg- 

 gatherers in check. Our bag for that year was 50 brace 

 a result to which this extra activity no doubt contributed ; 

 and in 1892, when the same measures were again taken, and 

 the climatic conditions were equally favourable, the total of 

 73^- brace was reached. 



The grouse may now be considered as thoroughly accli- 

 matised on Tentsmuir : and were they protected on a larger 

 extent of this waste land, no doubt their numbers would 

 greatly increase ; for the coveys, as a rule, run large a 

 brood of 1 3 young birds having twice been successfully 

 brought to maturity within my own experience. On this 

 subject, as it affects the southern end of Tentsmuir, Mr. 



