168 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



that of "hard living" — when properly utilised, is of 

 supreme importance in a wild upland region. It is the 

 abuse of that character that I deplore. Healthy, vigor- 

 ous heather-growth means healthy, vigorous sheep— 

 and grouse. The converse follows axiomatically. The 

 circumstances I have feebly attempted to portray, incident- 

 ally cast a sidelight on economic conditions that affect not 

 only sheep and grouse, but almost all wild-life within the 

 highlands defined. They affect also (though that may 

 count for nothing) the natural beauty of the country. 



In addition to careless burning and overstocking, 

 evils which are avoidable, the heather - crop is also 

 necessarily subject to climatic vicissitudes, which affect 

 both the plant and all creatures dependent upon it for 

 support. Cold wet summers mean bad bloom and feeble 

 frondage, while early autumnal frosts blight the seed 

 before it is fully ripe, reducing both the quantity of the 

 crop and also its nutritive qualities, with corresponding 

 detriment to the sheep and grouse that feed on it. While 

 I write this chapter, appears a thoughtful article on the 

 subject in The Field (July 28th, 1906), wherein Mr 

 J as. W. Barclay thus summarises the conclusions he has 

 arrived at on the Glenbucket moors in Aberdeenshire : — - 



"(1) A late and ungenial summer with frosted heather 

 and heather-seed, is followed by grouse-disease. 



" (2) A prolonged severe winter, with frozen snow, 

 kills or causes grouse to migrate, but is not attended or 

 followed by disease. 



" (3) A large stock of grouse does not cause disease. 



"(4) With a succession of fine seasons, the stock of 

 grouse, notwithstanding hard shooting, steadily increases. 



"(5) Disease has never appeared when there has been 

 a good crop of oats." 



