APPENDIX H. 



ANALYSIS OF REPORTS ON THE EFFECT OF FROST ON THE EGGS AND 

 YOUNG OF GROUSE IN THE SPRING OF 1908. 



By A. S. Leslie. 



In the summer of 1908 the following letter was sent to about three hundred correspondents 

 in England and Scotland : — 



" The Committee is anxious to obtain information as to the efl'ect of frost upon the eggs 

 of Grouse. It has been said that Grouse eggs may be frozen hard to the nest without 

 impairing their fertility. The Committee would like to have the evidence of gamekeepers 

 on this point. It has also been stated that when eggs have been destroyed by frost 

 the hen will not desert the nest and rear a second brood, but will go on sitting on the 

 frosted eggs, and will sometimes succumb in consequence ; that second broods only occur 

 where eggs have been completely destroyed or lost as a consequence of accident, floods, 

 snowstorms, etc. The present year was marked by a very severe frost at the beginning 

 of the nesting season ; but there were no other unfavourable conditions, such as floods 

 and snowstorms. Yet it has been reported from some districts that many of the young 

 birds are very small, apparently hatched about the end of June, and having all the 

 appearance of second broods. It would be interesting to know whether these are in 

 fact second broods or merely first broods hatched late owing to the cold spring causing 

 the birds to postpone nesting operations. I shall be obliged if you will kindly let me 

 have your views on this question." 



This letter was followed by a series of questions on specific points with a view to 

 ascertaining the amount of damage done by frost, and the following is a brief summary 

 of the answers received. 



District 0. Scotland, North — Caithness, Sutherland, Eoss, Ckojiarty, and Inverness. 



20 Reports. 



Three days of very severe frost occurred on April 23rd, 24th, and 25th — the 

 thermometer readings in several places being as low as 12°, 13°, 14°, and 15°. 



A universal opinion was expressed tliat the frost did little or no harm — no eggs were 

 split by the frost. But the hatching season was late, and a good many unfertile eggs 



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