274 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



During each of the years 1906, 1907, 1908 the Committee 

 obtained exhaustive Reports on the conditions affecting the 

 numbers and health of the Grouse stocks in different districts 

 of England, Scotland, and Wales. 



The main points dealt with in these Reports were : 



(1) Health and numbers of stocks at beginning of year. 



(2) Weather in breeding season. 



(3) Success or failure of breeding season. 



(4) Food supply throughout the year. 



(5) Results of season as evidenced by bags. 



(6) Health and numbers of stocks at end of year. 



It was hoped that, by making a careful collation of facts 

 extending over a considerable period, some light might be 

 thrown upon such problems as the following : 



(1) What are the conditions of weather and food supply 



during the winter which tend to ensure a healthy 

 and vigorous stock at the commencement of the 

 breeding season ? 



(2) Are the reproductive powers of the stock most noticeably 



affected by the health of the birds themselves, or by 

 the character of the weather which they experience 

 in the breeding season ? In other words, will a healthy 

 stock breed successfully in spite of adverse weather 

 conditions, or would a better result be obtained from 

 a less robust stock, provided the weather in the pairing, 

 sitting, and hatching season is ideal ? 



(3) What are the ideal weather conditions required to 



ensure a successful breeding season ? 



(4) What are the ideal weather conditions required to ensure 



a good food supply ? 



(5) What are the ideal weather conditions required to ensure 



that the chicks when hatched will live to maturity ? 



(6) What are the weather conditions usually associated 



with mortality from Strongylosis ? 



(7) What are the weather conditions usually associated 



with mortality from Coccidiosis ? 



