424 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



introduction of some creature which would feed upon the beetle or its grub, 

 and so keep its numbers well in check. Unfortunately the Red Grouse itself 

 does not appear to devour the insect at all, but a close relative, namely, the 

 Black Grouse {Tetrao tetrix) has been proved to have what may prove to be 

 a fortunate partiality for Lochmcea suturalis. I have strong evidence, from 

 two independent sources, of the truth of this. In December, 1908, Mr Eagle 

 Clarke, Keeper of the Natural History Department, in the Royal Scottish Museum, 

 received a small box filled with beetles, from Mr James Sword, of the Smith 

 Institute, Stirling. In the accompanying letter it was stated that the beetles 

 formed jjart of the contents of the crop of a Blackcock and had been sent 

 to Mr Sword for identification. The rest of the contents consisted of the 

 seeds of luzula and sheeps bitscabious, and nothing else so far as could be seen. 

 The beetles, of which there were a great many, were handed to me, and 

 I at once recognised them as our old friend, or rather enemy, Lochmcea 

 suturalis. Again, in 1907, Professor E. B. Poulton, of Oxford, communicated to 

 the Entomological Society of London an interesting account of the food of 

 Blackgame, based upon observations made by Dr F. Menteith Ogilvie, of Oxford, 

 to whom I here express my indebtedness for the reference. In this communica- 

 tion Dr Ogilvie's notes on the contents of the crops of five Blackgame are 

 reproduced, and in four cases out of five the heather beetle had been consumed 

 in large quantities. These notes are of so much interest in the present connection 

 that I cannot forbear quoting those portions which refer to the beetle. The 

 summarised contents of the crops, numbered 1, 2, 4, and 5, include the 

 following : — 



(1) "An immense number of small dark brown beetles, Lochmcea (Adimonia) 

 suturalis of Thomson." 



(2) "Many dark brown beetles, as in 5 of October 17th, 1907 [No. 1], but 

 less numerous." 



(4) " Three hundred or more dark brown beetles [Lochmcecc suturalis)." 



(5) " Immense number of the usual small dark brown beetle." 



" The two outstanding features are the spangle galls and the small beetle. 

 Almost all the birds were crowded with these, and, judging by my specimens, 

 the Blackgame must have been destroying enormous numbers of both. I don't 

 think, as regards the beetles, it is any exaggeration to allow three hundred beetles 

 per day per bird. Ours is not a very good Blackgame ground now, and perhaps 

 we have tliree hundred head in all ; that would equal ninety thousand beetles 



