APPENDIX G 127 



healthy, except on one moor in Lancashire, where the stock was small and the birds 

 were dying in large numbers. In the breeding season there was an outbreak of mortality 

 in one or two places ; it was chiefly cocks that died, and when this occurred the eggs 

 were unfertile. Frost and snow destroyed many nests, and there were many second 

 broods. The reports on August 12th were conflicting. At the end of the year there 

 was a fair stock and quite healthy. 



Hemarks. — Two bad heather years have had their effect upon the health of the birds, 

 but there has been no "eneral outbreak of " disease." 



District 4. England, Midland Counties. 



1906—10 Reports. 



Weather. — A mild season till May, when the weather turned wet and cold with snow 

 in parts. August was wet, September fine, and the end of the year was very wet with 

 snow in December. 



Heather. — Young heather grew well, especially when burnt in spring. There was some 

 damage by frost in May ; the bloom was fairly good but late, and the seed ripened fairly well. 



Stock. — At the beginning of the season the stock was above the average and healthy. 

 The breeding season was most unfavourable, eggs were destroyed by frost, and chicks by 

 floods and cold. There were many second broods, but these did well owing to first broods 

 being early. The stock on August 12th was fair on the low ground and bad on the 

 high ground, the bags were rather below the average, and at the end of the year there 

 was a fair average of healthy birds. There was no "disease." 



1907—9 Reports. 



Weather. — The early part of the year was normal, but rather wet and cold. The 

 breeding season was very wet and cold, especially in the hatching season. August was 

 wet, September fine, and the end of the year was wet and cold. 



Heather. — A bad heather year ; young growth poor and much damaged by frost. Bloom 

 universally bad and late ; seed ripened badly except in a few places where it ripened fairly 

 well in spite of late bloom. 



Stock. — At the commencement of the year there was a fair average of healthy birds. 

 The nesting and hatching seasons were fairly good, though some eggs were lost ; but there 

 was a great mortality among the young birds owiug to extreme wet and cold in May and 

 June. There were not many second broods. A few cases of "disease" were reported. 

 The stocks in the shooting season were all below the average, and the bags were poor. A 

 fair average stock was left, and very healthy. 



