CAUSES OF MORTALITY IN THE RED GROUSE 121 



remaining was the infestment with parasites, the tapeworms, 

 Hymenolepis, and Davainea and the round - worms Tricho- 

 strongylus having all established themselves in excessive 

 numbers in the various portions of the gut. Thus Strongylosis 

 would have eventually killed the bird, but only indirectly and 

 as an after result of the injury, which in itself was cured. 



A young Grouse chick, 11 J ounces, very plump and well 

 feathered, was found dead in Argyllshire, in August 1908, 

 and was forwarded for examination. There was no sign of 

 disease, the bird was in excellent condition, and death had re- 

 sulted from collision, prob- 

 ably with wire fencing, 

 which had broken the breast- 

 bone right across. There 

 was hardly any external sign 

 of damage in this case ; but 

 on removing the skin the 

 bruising and bleeding which 

 overlay the more serious 

 damage beneath at once in- 

 dicated the cause of death. 

 It is easy to distinguish 

 between damage before and 

 after death, when it is re- 

 membered that the circula- 

 tion is active in the former 

 case and inactive in the 



latter, Any violence done before death is accompanied by 

 bruising and bleeding. Damage done after death may be 

 accompanied by post-mortem staining due to the leakage of 

 bloody serum ; but will never show blood-clots lying under 

 the skin or amongst the muscle-sheets or other organs. 



Two cases of fractured sternum have occurred in Blackgame, 

 forwarded for examination. The first represents a recent 

 fracture of the sternum in a Blackcock. The second (see 

 Fig. 3) represents almost exactly the same damage reunited, 



FIG. 3. The breastbone of a Greyhen 

 fractured and reunited. 



