^40 Leaves from a Shooter's Diary 



All three groups, but especially the last, need tlie collection 

 of a vast amount of material obtained by dissection, and by the 

 examination of the contents of the crops and stomachs. These 

 would have to be tabulated and analysed, in order that a proper 

 balance sheet could be drawn up, with a proiit and loss account 

 made out for each individual species. 



In the majority of cases, the account would show items on the 

 Dr. and Cr. sides, and a study of these items would enable an observer 

 to say : " in this species the good preponderates over the evil and 

 the bird is useful, in that species the reverse condition obtains and 

 the bird is harmful." 



Until we have acquired a much wider and more accurate 

 knowledge of the food of birds, it is a mere waste of time to discuss 

 their different economic values. 



Mine is a very small contribution towards this neglected subject. 

 I deal with the food of the three Scotch Grouse — the Red Grouse, 

 the Black-game, and the Ptarmigan — and incidentally of the Cuckoo. 



Of the three game birds, I have upwards of loo skins of each 

 species in my collection : every skin has a label attached to it, 

 giving in detail the contents of the crop, gullet and gizzard found in 

 that particular specimen, together with other particulars with which 

 we have no present concern. 



The bulk of these Grouse were collected during the different 

 months of the shooting season from August to December, and a pair 

 in each month of the close season, so that a digest of the total results 

 in over loo examples gives reasonably accurate data for constructing 

 a diet table throughout the year, as applying to the particular 

 ground where the birds were shot. 



These grouse were obtained at Barcaldine, an Argyllshire moor 

 about 10 miles as the crow flies N.N.E. of Oban on the shores of 

 Loch Crearan. 



Barcaldine is well furnished with moor, woods and hills, these 

 latter reaching an altitude of upwards of 2,500 feet. The ground, 

 therefore, presents the necessary requirements for the Red Grouse, 

 for Black-game and for the Ptarmigan, and all three species are 

 found there in some numbers. 



As to the arrangement of the paper, I have 



Firstly, dealt with the contents of the crops of a few Black- 

 game shot in the latter half of October. These notes 

 are of rather exceptional interest, as will be seen later 

 on. 



Secondly, I have dealt with the chief food plants themselves. 



Thirdly, I have made some remarks on Hairy Caterpillars, 

 which are generally numerous on the moor in summer 

 and autumn, and this has led me to speak of the Cuckoo 

 and its diet ; and 



