ii6 Practical Bird-Keeping. 



I always expected that Willow-Grouse, from living on a 

 more varied diet, would be more easily managed than the British 

 Red Grouse, and when I obcained a small lot in 1908 I found 

 this was certainly the case. We never had the slightest diffi- 

 culty in keeping them, as they would eat all that a Red-Grouse 

 would take, and, in addition. Birch, Sallow and Beech, foliage 

 and twig ends. Though wild-caught birds, sent direct from 

 Sweden, they would, in about three weeks time, run towards 

 one at feeding time. My first V)irds all proved to be hens, 

 but, nevertheless, four out of the six laid the first summer. 

 Tlie following spring I succeeded in getting some cocks ; but, 

 afterwards, though we hatched young, and a pair which I pre- 

 sented to the Zoological Gardens reared a small brood, a severe 

 visitation of "gapes" not only prevented any further success 

 that season, but obliged me, much against my inclination, to 

 give up keeping any more of the Grouse family. 



Although, under the supervision of the Committee of 

 Enquiry on Grouse Disease, some 2,000 birds were dissected, and 

 only in three examples were gape-worms (^Syngarnus ti'achealis) 

 found; yet as the Committee report: "This freedom from the 

 common pest of the Fowl-yard and the Pheasant coop is due to 

 the free and unconfiued life of the Grouse, together with the 

 comparative paucity of earthworms on the Moor." That the 

 above explanation is probably quite correct my experience siiows, 

 for in captivit}^ I have found Grouse and their allies exception- 

 ally subject to the parasite. For several years in succession, the 

 "gapes" first affected the birds of the Grouse family in my 

 collection; Grouse and Willow - Grouse, Blackgame, Caper- 

 caillies, then Partridges, Pheasants, Impeyans and Tragopans 

 (I place the names in order of susceptil)ility), and finally it 

 spread to other species including Bustards and the young of 

 two species of Crane. In the cold weather we had no difficulty 

 in keeping all these species in health, but with the warmth and 

 drought of summer, in spite of free use of quicklime, etc., the 

 pest regularly showed itself. Therefore I had to cease keeping 

 some of my greatest favourites. I hope only temporarily. 



When Pine branches are required for Capercaillies and 

 Blackgame, or Sallow or Birch for Willow-Grouse, it is a good 



