CAUSES OF MORTALITY IN THE RED GROUSE 155 



the various portions of the gnt. Thus Strongylosis woukl have eventually 

 killed the bird, but only indirectly and as an after result of the injury, which 

 in itself was cured. 



(No. 1626.) A young Grouse chick, ll|- ounces, very plump and well 

 feathered, was found dead in Argyllshire, August 1908, and was forwarded 

 for examination. 



There was no sign of disease, the bird was in excellent condition, and death 

 had resulted from collision, probably with wire fencing, which had broken 

 the breastbone right across. There was hardly any external sign of damage 

 in this case ; but on removing the skin the bruising and bleeding which 

 overlay the more serious damage beneath at once indicated the cause of 

 death. 



It is easy to distinguish between damage before and after death, when 

 it is remembered that the circulation is active in the former case and in- 

 active in the latter. Any violence done before death is accompanied by 

 bruising and bleeding. Damage done after death may be accompanied by 

 post-mortem staining due to the leakage of bloody serum ; but will never 

 show blood-clots lying under the skin or amongst the muscle - sheets or other 

 organs. 



(No. 1824.) A hen Grouse, of 20 ounces, was "found dead, but quite warm, 

 about a mile from the nearest part of the moor, and at a place Fracture of 

 down to which Grouse never cro unless when driven off the moor 

 by storm, which very rarely occurs." This was in Cumberland in March 1909. 

 The bird was quite healthy, in good condition, well feathered, and of a 

 fair weight, and having been found dead with feet and legs well feathered, 

 was just the kind of bird to be classed as a case of "the acute form of 'Grouse 

 Disease ' which kills off birds in splendid condition before they have time 

 to waste." But there was some blood in the mouth, and when this clue was 

 followed up by further dissection the root of both lungs was found to have 

 been torn to pieces by splinters of bone from the fracture of two or three 

 vertebras. There was a fair number of Trichostrongylus in the cseca, but no 

 sign of disease and no tapeworms. 



(No. 1762.) A cock Grouse of 26 ounces was forwarded from Scotland with 

 the correspondence quoted below. The case affords an excellent internal 

 example of the evidence upon which the idea of aii acute and very "^^" 

 rapidly fatal form of " Grouse Disease " has been founded. 



