LOCAL CONDITIONS AND HEALTH OF GROUSE 283 



reporters consider that the shortage was due to the loss of eggs 

 by frost ; but there is little evidence to support this view. 

 What eggs there were seemed to have hatched out unusually 

 well, and it must be borne in mind that the shortage was 

 noted before the frost came for there were few eggs in the nests. 

 Possibly the wintry weather in the mating season may have 

 caused the birds to postpone their pairing, and so delayed and 

 disorganised their usual breeding habits ; this view is supported 

 by the fact that many barren birds were seen, the infer- 

 ence being that these birds might have mated and bred had the 

 weather conditions been more favourable. Against this theory 

 we have the experience of 1906 and 1907, where it was con- 

 clusively shown that a healthy stock of birds can breed pro- 

 lifically even under the most unfavourable weather conditions. 

 Hence we are forced to adopt the view that the solution of the 

 problem had more to do with the condition of the parent stock 

 rather than with the weather. We know that the stock has 

 wintered badly, we know that many birds are pining and sickly, 

 and we also know from anatomical investigation that a bird 

 when attacked by Strongylosis often becomes incapable of 

 breeding owing to the non-development of the reproductive 

 organs. 1 One point of exceptional interest is the mysterious 

 disappearance of chicks in a season which appeared to be ideal 

 for the growth and development of young birds. This circum- 

 stance seems to have puzzled many of the reporters. Some 

 ascribe the loss of chicks to drought, others blame migration, 

 but for the reasons given in another part of this book neither 

 of these solutions appears to be the correct one. 2 The view 

 already expressed that the mortality may be due to Coccidiosis 3 

 is suggested as a more probable explanation, and is supported 

 by the fact that warm dry weather, appears to be favourable to 

 the development of this parasite. 4 Until further evidence is 

 obtained on the subject, however, the question cannot be 

 regarded as settled. 



1 Vide chap. vi. p. 179. 2 Tide chap. i. pp. 16 et seq. 



8 Ibid. p. 18. 4 Tide chap. ix. pp. 260 et seq. 



