CHAPTER XIV 



NOTES ON GROUSE-DISEASE 



So many able scientists and experienced observers have 

 discussed the question of grouse-disease, and so many 

 theories have been promulgated — though none of them are 

 apparently conclusive, at least as to the remedy — that the 

 author only proposes to give some notes of his personal 

 experience of the disease. One circumstance appears 

 to be invariable, and to be the inevitable precursor of 

 disease, viz., a heavy stock of grouse^ — it may not be the 

 cause, but is certainly the accompaniment. Every instance 

 that I have myself known has occurred after a period of 

 plenty. Indeed cycles are almost regular in their sequence, 

 though intervals vary. 



Different areas of moorland vary in their capacity of 

 sustaining a head of grouse. Thus, on a hill-range of the 

 Scottish highlands, each acre may accommodate several 

 grouse ; while, in the lowlands, or in Northumberland, 

 one grouse to several acres may be a full stock. But each 

 moorland area has its fixed capacity ; and whatever the 

 local maximum may be, if it be exceeded, disease, in 

 my experience, has followed. 



This variation in grouse-producing, or sustaining 



