1886-87.] Grouse Disease. 87 



different parts of the southern counties, and I was interested 

 to note that in some districts cocks seemed to suffer more than 

 hens, and in others exactly the opposite. A gentleman from 

 Peeblesshire writes, " Is it not singular that no cocks have been 

 found dead ? One old cock last week remained beside his 

 dead mate a whole day, strutting round and near her, and 

 evidently doing his best to attract her attention." "With the 

 same post I received a letter from a gamekeeper in Lanarkshire, 

 who stated, " The grouse are dying here thick and fast. They 

 are generally about burn-sides, and mostly old cocks." Eeceiv- 

 ing numerous similar statements, and getting specimens for- 

 warded from different parts, I subjected them to a searching 

 examination. The result only corroborated the examinations of 

 previous years, no new facts being elicited. At the same time, 

 I received specimens of healthy birds from Mr Campbell, game- 

 keeper to A. J. Balfour, Esq., in Strathconan forest, in Eoss- 

 shire, and sj)ecimens of diseased ones sent alive from Mr 

 Stewart, gamekeeper to Sir Edward Colebrook, Abington, Lan- 

 arkshire, for purposes of comparison. The internal organs of 

 the healthy and diseased birds corresponded in all particulars, 

 with the exception of the intestines. In the healthy birds I 

 found both strongyli and tccnia calva, though in very limited 

 numbers, and from which they seemed in no way to suffer. 

 The diseased birds were externally of a wasted and emaciated 

 appearance, and as bare about the legs as a plover, with the 

 breast-bone almost cutting the skin. Only a few tamia calva 

 were to be seen ; but I discovered millions of strongijli in the 

 ccccum, and which would undoubtedly have caused death in a 

 sliort time had the birds not been killed. On examining some 

 specimens forwarded from Ayrshire, I found them plump and 

 fat, perfect and beautiful in their plumage, and feathered down 

 to the very claws. In them I discovered that death was trace- 

 able to parts of the bowel being literally packed with tamia 

 calva, and being so inflamed as to constitute a species of gangrene 

 around this loathsome parasite. I have here an illustration 

 which proves beyond question that the immediate cause of death 

 was that which I have indicated. Here, also, are a large number 

 — millions I should say — of strangle taken from the ccecum of an 

 emaciated grouse. I am, therefore, of opinion that the mortality 

 of plump fat birds is caused by tmnia calva, and in thin ema- 



