STOCK 479 



change of blood is obtained by means of driving, for the packs of young birds 

 are constantly beins: moved about from one beat to another and s;et no , , . 



JO o Yorkshire. 



chance of staying at home on the patch of heather where they were 

 hatched. Thus it would be almost a miracle if they were to seek out and pair 

 with the survivors of their respective coveys, as well as being contrary to the 

 mating instinct of all living creatures. 



Probably this constant mixing of the stock is one of the most beneficial 

 results that has followed the introduction of Grouse driving, and it is princi- 

 pally to this that Mr Rimington Wilson ascribes the large numbers and health 

 ■of the birds on his Broomhead Moor, for there the Grouse do not migrate 

 nor is fresh blood ever introduced by artificial means. ^ 



Another method of introducing fresh blood is by changing the eggs in the 

 nests. On some moors this has been successfully accomplished, and it is said 

 that the result has been an improvement in the stock ; but the opera- g ^^^^^ 

 tion is a delicate one and entails a great deal of trouble and much ™^- 

 disturbance of the ground. Many failures have been recorded, and the j^ractice 

 is not to be recommended. 



One great objection to the purchase of eggs or live Grouse for the purpose 

 of improving the stock is that it encourages poaching, and it is feared objections 

 that moor-owners do not always make sufficient inquiry as to whether fuo-^^^ds* 

 the fresh blood purchased by them has been honestly obtained." or eggs. 



It is somewhat surprising that so little has been done in the way of stocking 

 moors with hand-reared Grouse, for Grouse can be reared in captivity almost 

 as easily as pheasants, and it might materially assist the restocking Hand-rear- 

 of a moor which had been hard hit by disease if the gamekeeper had ™^" 

 a few coops of captive chicks, which he could release as soon as they were old 

 enough to find food for themselves. 



These minor expedients may on occasion prove helpful, but they are of little 

 real importance when compared with the main rules of moor and stock 



^ Summary. 



management. These may be summarised as follows : — 



Ascertain the number of birds on the ground as early as possible. 



Determine what stock of birds can be carried with safety over the winter. 



Shoot early and often in a good season ; shoot old birds only in a bad season. 



Regulate the stock by the number to be left on the ground, and not by the 

 ba2[s obtained. 



' Vide p. 480. 2 yi^g p_ 453, 



