368 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



that are truly specific, while he also inveighs against the 

 unnecessary multiplication of synonyms and the use of 

 tautonyms, and reminds us, as is very necessary nowadays, 

 that nomenclature in Zoology is a means and not an end. 

 Given proper characteristics, he is as ready as another to 

 propose a new species : he is neither a " lumper " nor a 

 " splitter." 



35. The Grouse Disease Inquiry. 



[Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. Grouse Disease Inquiry. 

 Interim Eeport. London, 1908.] 



We have lately received a copy of this Report, the evidence 

 in which tends to certain conclusions, though the Final Report 

 alone will justify our adherence to them as absolute facts. It 

 appears that there may be two forms of Grouse Disease : 

 firstly, the chronic, wasting, and generally fatal form, where 

 the parasitic worms normal to the bird become particularly 

 harmful in its weakened condition ; and secondly, the acute 

 form, considered by Klein to be an infectious pneumonia con- 

 nected Avith a special organism. As, however, this organism 

 is also found in healthy Grouse, and individuals said to be 

 attacked by acute disease in their full vigour have proved 

 to be in an emaciated condition, Klein's views are open 

 to doubt, and the existence of a second form of disease is 

 held to be not proved at present. 



One fact, however, has been made abundantly clear from 

 the evidence of owners of moors, keepers, and local corre- 

 spondents in touch with the appointed " head-centres " : 

 namely, that there is an intimate connexion between health 

 and the food-supply, which consists, as is well known, chiefly, 

 though not entirely, of the shoots of Calluna (Ling). Over- 

 stocking a moor simply means keeping more birds than the 

 food-supply can maintain. Minor points to which attention 

 is drawn are that Grouse do not eat frosted heather, and that 

 the cocks succumb chiefly in spring and the hens in autumn, 

 when the sexes are respectively at their weakest. 



It would not be fair to judge the Commission on the 

 strength of the work of the first two and a half years alone. 



