86 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



they cannot make any material impression on the growth of 

 the plant. 



In June there is a continuance of the favourable food con- 

 ditions which commenced in May. It will be seen by reference 

 to Table II. that in this month the consumption of fresh green 

 shoots of heather rises to 82 per cent., while that of brown 

 winter heather drops to zero. 



In July^the consumption of heather drops to its lowest 

 for the year only 53 per cent. ; this is doubtless partly due to 

 the ripening of blaeberries which occurs in this month. The 

 consumption of blaeberry stalks and leaves has risen to 20 

 per cent., while the quantity of berries eaten is shown by the 

 increase of " various " to 27 per cent. The unexpected increase 

 in the consumption of brown winter heather is puzzling, but 

 might be accounted for by an abnormal period of cold weather 

 or blighting wind causing a "set back " in the new growth, 

 and driving the birds to feed more largely on the old shoots- 

 This view is supported by the fact that the birds have also 

 eaten an abnormal quantity of blaeberry stalks and leaves, 

 whereas in the following month, when the heather has presum- 

 ably recovered from its temporary blight, the consumption 

 of brown winter heather and blaeberry leaves and stalks drops 

 at once from 47 per cent, to 1 per cent. The figures for July 

 shown in the Table are probably exceptional, and do not repre- 

 sent the normal proportion of foods eaten in that month ; 

 but they are interesting as showing the elastic manner in which 

 the Grouse can adapt himself to varying conditions. 



In August the figures for the consumption of heather appear 

 to have become normal, and the fact that this is the great berry 

 month of the year is shown by the increase of " various " to 

 34 per cent., the largest amount in any month. Berry feeding 

 is, of course, irregular, for berries only grow in certain localities, 

 their consumption cannot therefore be gauged by the examina- 

 tion of specimens obtained from moors where no berries are 

 obtainable. Berries are not an essential item in the diet of 

 the Grouse ; but it is well known that where they are to be 



