

CFIPIEE III. 



THE GROUSE DISEASE. 



The motive which, is inducing some landowners 

 to reintroduce the cruel rule of the birds of 

 prey over their fine estates is to be found in the 

 theory which certain gentlemen have formed of 

 the cause of that national misfortune 'the 

 grouse disease.' This theory is that our breed 

 of grouse has become degenerate, weak, and 

 sickly, and that at last an epidemic has broken 

 out among them which is carrying them all off, 

 because for some years man has been in the 

 habit of reducing their number by killing them 

 himself for a short time in the autumn, instead 

 of allowing them to be torn to pieces by their 

 natural enemies all the year round. In the first 

 place, to reason by analogy, will these naturahsts 



