CHAPTER XIII 



THE HEATHER BEETLE 



Part I. On " Frosted " Heather and its Connexion 

 with the Heather Beetle, Lochmaca suturalis. 



FOR a long time the attention of many proprietors of Grouse 

 moors and their keepers has been directed to the fact that large 

 patches of heather, varying in size from a few yards square to 

 hundreds, or even thousands, of acres, have turned a rusty red 

 or withered grey colour, and have become useless as food for 

 Grouse. In the districts which suffered most from this condition 

 large numbers of the Grouse have left the affected area and 

 migrated to neighbouring moors where the heather was in a 

 healthy state. 



Not only does the shooting value of such a moor become 

 thus seriously impaired, but the health of the birds themselves 

 is affected. Although there does not as yet appear to be any 

 direct connexion between the diseased state of the heather, 

 and " Grouse Disease," inasmuch as the birds have been proved 

 not to eat the withered shoots, yet the deficiency of food on an 

 affected moor undoubtedly results in a weak state of health, 

 rendering the Grouse less fit to resist the attacks of tape- 

 worms and other parasites, or to combat disease of any kind 

 whatsoever. 



It is, therefore, of the utmost importance to ascertain, if 

 possible, the exact cause of this blighted condition of the heather, 

 and to devise some practical remedy. 



During the progress of this Inquiry many letters have been 

 received by the Committee which serve to show the great 



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