xxii INTRODUCTION. 



haunts. In ancient times the whole of the country on the 

 outskirts of the hills was covered with heather, which also 

 stretched far into the level plains of the Merse. The plough 

 has invaded the outlying domains of the Grouse, but little 

 change has taken place in the character or surface of the 

 higher grounds, and, consequently — with the exception of 

 some of the larger birds of prey, such as the Hen-Harrier 

 and the Eaven, which have been exterminated — the species 

 of the winged inhabitants of the district remain much the 

 same as of yore. 



In the early years of this century, before the days of game 

 preservation, Grouse appear to have been very scarce in the 

 Lammermuirs, for we find from the diary of a Berwickshire 

 sportsman, who, in August and September 1812-14, fre- 

 quently visited Longformacus, Monynut, and Bedshiel, to 

 shoot Moor-fowl, that he did not, upon any occasion, see 

 more than fourteen, or get above one shot at the birds in a 

 day, on account of their wildness. 



As a contrast to this it may be mentioned that in 1872 

 upwards of 700 brace were bagged in a fortnight on the 

 Byrecleugh Moors; and on the 12th, 13th, and 14tli of 

 August 1886, 386 brace were killed in the neighbourhood 

 of Carfrae Mill. There can be little doubt that this vast 

 increase has been caused by the strict preservation of the 

 ground from poachers, the destruction of all the winged and 

 four-footed enemies of the game, and the judicious burning 

 of the heather, as well as the killing down of the old birds, 

 by driving them over batteries in which the sportsmen are 

 concealed. 



Whilst Grouse have multiplied so marvellously. Black- 

 game, probably owing to the drainage of many of their 

 favourite haunts, do not seem to have advanced in numbers, 

 for they are not plentiful in any locality, being apparently 

 more numerous in the vicinity of Spottiswoode than else- 



