LOCAL CONDITIONS AND HEALTH OF GROUSE 293 



Heather. Young heather grew well ; the bloom was good, and the 

 seed ripened well. 



Stock. The year began with a good average stock and healthy. 

 The snow in April did much damage to eggs. There were a good many 

 second broods. On August 12th the stock was up to the average and 

 healthy, the bags were below the average, and the stocks left were 

 below the average but healthy. 



Remarks. The health of the stock in 1909 was excellent 

 only one isolated case of " disease " being reported. 



SUMMARY OF RESULTS OBTAINED. 



From the foregoing abstract of Reports, it will be seen that 

 the weather conditions varied considerably in different parts 

 of the country. In the majority of cases the combinations of 

 natural causes produced results which might have been expected 

 this is especially well marked in Scotland. In other cases the 

 results came as a surprise, but were sufficiently conclusive to 

 justify us in amending some of the theories which have hitherto 

 been regarded as established. The Reports are capable of 

 various constructions, but the following may be regarded as 

 a reasonable interpretation of some of the facts observed. 



1. Good Heather Growth, i.e., good growth of leaf, flower, 

 and seed, is followed by a healthy stock in the following 

 year. We have a striking example of this in 1 908-1 909, when a 

 first-rate heather crop was succeeded by a disease-free year. 

 It follows that when the heather growth is good a large stock 

 may be left. 



2. Bad Heather Growth is usually followed by some mortality, 

 and where stocks are large this mortality may assume serious 

 proportions. It follows that when the heather growth is good 

 stocks should be killed down. 



3. The Direct Effect of Weather Conditions on Grouse. 

 The direct effect of weather upon Grouse seems to be slight, 

 though the indirect effect as affecting their food supply is enor- 

 mous. Adult Grouse seem to be unaffected by cold, snow, 



