THE GROUSE. 137 



for the hen harriers, which come each year and 

 breed on their ground. These large hawks 

 kill two-thirds of the grouse which are trying 

 to breed in the country, and the keepers know 

 no more about what they are doing than the 

 lessee at his club in London. 



The grouse require what the Committee 

 would give by law to all sorts of little birds — 

 ' a close time, when they can breed in peace ' 

 in the spring. 



And they require food and a home, and this 

 the heather would give them ; but as if man's 

 only aim was to drive them out of the country, 

 he burns this over their heads. 



Sheep and grouse require exactly the same 

 management with heather — a constant suc- 

 cession of young heather, secured by judicious 

 burning. This is perfectly understood in most 

 parts of Scotland, and the heather is burnt in 

 strips. In Argyllshire there is a clause in the 

 farmers' leases about burning a tenth of the 

 heather, but it is a dead letter. Each shepherd 



