CHAPTER XXII 



GROUSE IN CAPTIVITY 



By Dr H. Hammond Smith 



In the spring of 1906 the Committee decided to acquire an Observation Area 

 on which experiments as to the origin of "Grouse Disease" could be Reasons for 

 carried out on health)^ Grouse, and inquiries were at once set on foot eapUve^ 

 to find such an area. Tiouse. 



The difficulties of finding a suitable place were increased by the fact that 

 it was essential that it should be sufficiently near to London to allow the scientific 

 staff of the Committee to reach it in as short a time as possible piu^iiuga 

 whenever necessary. Many sites were inquired about, but all rejected as '*''^®' 

 being too far distant from London. The question of rearing Grouse on this area 

 did not at first arise, and it was only after experience showed that such a thing 

 was possible that the experiment was tried, and a history of the methods adopted, 

 and the experience gained, will be interesting to the readers of this Report. 



After much seeking, a suitable place was found in Surrey on the estate of 

 Mr A. Pain, who all through the course of the experiments has shown, by his 

 constant kindness, the interest he has taken in the work. The site gj^^ 

 chosen consisted of undulating hilly ground with a sandy subsoil ^^^°^^^- 

 covered with luxuriant heather, and dotted over with self-sown pine trees, 

 very like the fringe of many Scottish moors. The special feature which made 

 it suitable for the purposes of the Committee was the free growth of heather 

 of the type most suitable for the food of Grouse. In order to minimise the 

 danger arising from heather fires, Mr Pain has had wide rides cut through his 

 heather — these rides are cut every spring — with the result that there is a 

 luxuriant growth of young heather every summer. This young heather provides 

 excellent food, while the old heather at the edges of the rides makes good 

 cover for the birds during the day. 



In 1906 six movable coops of wire netting were made, each measuring 8 feet 



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