96 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



condition. The gizzard does what it can to work up the husks 

 and grain into a milky paste, but the microscope shows that 

 this paste is to a large extent composed of siliceous spicules 

 and small spines of an almost glassy hardness. This damages 

 the delicate mucous lining of the intestine. The result of the 

 passage of this irritating food is, first, an extra flow of digestive 

 juices, secondly, an increased activity on the part of the walls 

 of the intestine, both as to movement (peristalsis) and secretion 

 from the stimulation produced by this form of food. Thirdly, 

 comes a point at which mucus is thrown out in large quantities 

 to protect the gut, and this continues and increases until the 

 actual cells themselves are shed, and the protection breaks 

 down. Finally, the intestine becomes inflamed to the extent 

 of ulceration, and this state will continue and increase so long 

 as the cause continues to act. 



Such irritation to the intestine of even a healthy Grouse, 

 which already has to deal with worms of at least two kinds, 

 is bound to have an evil effect if continued for any length of 

 time ; moreover, in places where the corn is left out owing to 

 bad weather, or for other reasons, there is the additional aggrava- 

 tion that the birds may be filling themselves with wet and sour 

 grain, not one whit the less irritating as regards the husk, which 

 cannot be softened by wet ; and no doubt the consequence of 

 this is in some seasons noticeably bad. 



Corn in moderation is probably not unwholesome as a food, 

 and were it possible to feed one set of Grouse with clean grain, 

 and another with such stuff as the birds pick up for themselves 

 on the stubbles, there is no doubt that the former would rapidly 

 improve in condition, and the latter go steadily downhill. 

 Such an experiment is not practicable. 



To recapitulate, the following may be given as a fairly accurate 

 account of the monthly dietary of the Red Grouse for the year : 



January, Calluna shoots (64 per cent.) and Calluna seed- 

 heads (27 per cent.). 



February, Calluna shoots (75 per cent.) and the stalks and 

 buds of blaeberry and leaves of cowberry. 



