136 ■ APPENDIX H 



due to the snow; as a matter of fact not much damage was reported. The eggs hatched 

 out well ; those that were left unhatched contained chicks. In many cases there were few 

 barren birds, and the coveys were up to the average in numbers. 



Remarks. — There are not many records of temperatures for this district, and from those 

 supplied it would appear that the frost was not so severe as it was further north, 16' being 

 the lowest recorded reading. 



The deductions to be drawn from the foregoing analysis, though negative, are never- 

 theless of considerable interest. They may be summarised as follows : — 



(1) Frost in the breeding season does not cause universal destruction to eggs. 



(2) In some cases it seems to do little or no harm, even though relatively severe. 



(3) In other cases it seems to do more harm even though relatively less severe. 



(4) The effects of a hard frost in the breeding season are apt to be exaggerated, if from 



any other less obvious cause there happens to be a shortage of young birds in 



the shooting season. 

 How it happens that eggs in one district seem to be better able to withstand frost 

 than those in other districts must remain a subject for conjecture. Acclimatisation appears 

 a more probable solution than any other> for it is clearly brought out by the Reports that 

 in the more rigorous climates of the north and east the eggs were less afiected by frost 

 than in the milder climate of the west. Possibly it may be that in the colder districts 

 instinct teaches the parent birds to take greater precautions, e.g., to nest under the shelter 

 of long heather rather than in open situations. Many cases are recorded of Grouse 

 protecting their eggs from frost by covering them with loose twigs of heather. 



