292 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



Remarks. Two bad heather years have had their effect 

 upon the health of the birds, but there has been no general 

 outbreak of " disease." 



DISTRICT 4. ENGLAND, MIDLAND COUNTIES. 



190610 Reports. 



Weather. A mild season till May, when the weather turned wet and 

 cold with snow in parts. August was wet, September fine, and the 

 end of the year was very wet with snow in December. 



Heather. Young heather grew well, especially when burnt in spring. 

 There was some damage by frost in May ; the bloom was fairly good 

 but late, and the seed ripened fairly well. 



Stock. At the beginning of the season the stock was above the 

 average and healthy. The breeding season was most unfavourable, 

 eggs were destroyed by frost, and chicks by floods and cold. There 

 were many second broods, but these did well owing to first broods being 

 early. The stock on August 12th was fair on the low ground and bad 

 on the high ground, the bags were rather below the average, and at 

 the end of the year there was a fair average of healthy birds. There 

 was no " disease." 



19079 Reports. 



Weather. The early part of the year was normal, but rather wet 

 and cold. The breeding season was very wet and cold, especially in 

 the hatching season. August was wet, September fine, and the end of 

 the year was wet and cold. 



Heather. A bad heather year ; young growth poor and much 

 damaged by frost. Bloom universally bad and late ; seed ripened 

 badly except in a few places where it ripened fairly well in spite of 

 late bloom. 



Stock. At the commencement of the year there was a fair average 

 of healthy birds. The nesting and hatching seasons were fairly good, 

 though some eggs were lost ; but there was a great mortality among 

 the young birds owing to extreme wet and cold in May and June. 

 There were not many second broods. A few cases of " disease " were 

 reported. The stocks in the shooting season were all below the average, 

 and the bags were poor. A fair average stock was left, and very healthy. 



1908 7 Reports. 



Weather. Wintry weather in the beginning of the year. April 

 very cold with snow and frost, thereafter fine and normal. 



