LOCAL CONDITIONS AND HEALTH OF GROUSE 285 



Stock. A good healthy stock at the beginning of the year. The 

 breeding season was unfavourable owing to cold and wet ; but the losses 

 do not appear to have been serious. There was a good deal of sickness 

 throughout the district 1 with a remarkable three weeks' outbreak on 

 the Lammermoors in April, which swept off 10 per cent, of the birds, 

 nearly all cocks. The attack passed away as suddenly as it had come, 

 and the stock on August 12th was much over the average in numbers 

 and very healthy. Elsewhere the stocks on the 12th were irregular, 

 and the bags variable ; the stock left was about an average in numbers 

 and quite healthy. 



Remarks. As was to be expected there were a good many 

 scattered cases of mortality, though the outbreaks were nowhere 

 very severe except on the Lammermoors, where an excellent 

 example was furnished of a quick recovery before any harm 

 had been done. The cause of the recovery was probably a 

 sudden burst of young growth on the heather which enabled 

 the birds to obtain food on uncontaminated ground. As is 

 usually the case when an outbreak occurs in April, it was chiefly 

 cocks that died ; 2 had the attack extended into May and June 

 hens also would have been affected, and the effect on the young 

 stock would have been serious. The prospects for 1908 are 

 not difficult to forecast. The bad heather year in 1907 will 

 make the wintering poor, and there is sure to be some mortality 

 in the spring ; but it will probably not be very serious for the 

 birds of this year were hatched early and are consequently 

 vigorous; they are in excellent condition and no overstocks 

 are reported. 



190810 Reports. 



Weather. A normal winter with a cold, wet March, followed by a 

 very severe frost in April and snow in places May and June ; rather 

 cold July ; August and September fine, hot. and dry. A fine open 

 whiter. 



Heather. As in other districts this was an exceptionally good 

 heather year. Some damage was caused by the frost in April ; but 

 the bloom was excellent, and the seed ripened well. 



Stock. At the beginning of the season there was an average stock, 

 all healthy except on one moor in Midlothian. The nesting season 



1 Vide map, 1907. * Vide Table VI. p. 239. 



