286 Northern Observations of Inland Birds 



The decimation of certain moors by disease led in 

 some parts to the practice of restocking. Live birds 

 were purchased at the usual price of one pound a pair, 

 and put down in the devastated areas. I am doubtful, 

 however, whether it has ever been satisfactorily proved 

 that these imported birds remained. The grouse, like 

 the red deer, is a great lover of home, and as he will 

 not mate unless he be free to choose his own bride, so 

 he will not settle unless his choice of habitat be his own. 



There is, moreover, an objectionable side to the 

 practice of restocking. The live birds are, of course, 

 netted, and the manner in which this is done has from 

 time to time been widely discussed in The Field, A few 

 years ago Cumbrian sportsmen were righteously indignant 

 by the almost entire depletion of many of their moors 

 owing to the activities of the netters. Nets were fixed 

 on small properties, and as the birds came over from the 

 adjoining moors they naturally fell foul of them. Thus 

 the Highland proprietor who paid for the introduction 

 of new blood did so at the expense of some Yorkshire 

 or Cumbrian tenant, for naturally the birds were not 

 necessarily reared on the moor on which they were 

 netted. They came over from other moors, the shooting 

 tenants of which suffered accordingly. 



This condition of things naturally led to general dis- 

 approval of the importation of live birds, and since new 

 blood can just as easily be obtained, and at a much lower 

 cost, by an exchange of eggs, this course would seem by 

 far the more desirable. 



Grouse are not difficult to rear artificially. In capti- 

 vity they lay well, though they are apt to be somewhat 

 broody, arid the eggs, as laid, can be collected and hatched 

 out in the ordinary way. The young flourish quite well 

 on pheasant chick food, and make most interesting and 

 fascinating pets. In view of the possibilities in this 



