STOCK 475 



both by selection and by driving all the high ground even above the heather 

 line. Taking the last six years it is curious to note that whereas the state 

 of the moor as shown by dogs prior to August 12th showed on the average 

 4"68 young birds in each covey, or a ratio of old to young of 100 to 234 ; 

 the actual recorded bag during the same years showed 100 to 148. The 

 very high proportion of old birds in the bag is, I believe, due to the following 

 causes : — 



" (1) That every effort is made to select old birds in shooting. 



" (2) That the inspection by dogs prior to August 12th does not include 

 all the barren pairs. 



" (3) That before the driving takes place the young birds particularly i^ack, 

 and so escape destruction. I have often proved that many packs 

 consist of young hens." 



The analysis is interesting as showing that on the moor in question a larger 

 percentage of old birds is killed by driving than by shooting over dogs ; but 

 as the proportion of young birds throughout the season is invariably much 

 smaller than would be expected from the observations prior to August 12th 

 it is possible that the cause of this circumstance is that there has been a 

 general migration of the young birds to low'er ground before driving has been 

 commenced. It would be interesting to compare the results of this high- 

 lying moor with similar observations made upon a lower moor in the same 

 district, and thus endeavour to solve the mystery of the disappearance of so 

 large a proportion of the young birds seen at the beginning of the season. 

 On a difiereut type of moor the results would probably be entirely different, 

 thus pointing to the need of adapting the principles of stock regulation to 

 meet the special requirements of the ground. 



Many artificial expedients have been adopted for the improvement Aitificiai 

 of Grouse stocks, either by raising their standard of health or in- |^p"ov?utr 

 creasing their numbers. stock. 



Of these the most generally adopted is that of introducing fresh l^lood 

 by importing eggs or live birds from other moors. It is believed by many 

 moor-owners that by this means inbreeding and the consequent deterioration 

 of the stock may be avoided. 



This view raises an interesting point in the natural history of the Grouse. 



There is no doubt that on some moors Grouse show a tendency to remain 

 upon the ground on which they are bred, and do not develop the migratory 



