STOCK 441 



ground before driving has been commenced. It would be 

 interesting to compare the results of this high-lying moor with 

 similar observations made upon a lower moor in the same 

 district, and thus endeavour to solve the mystery of the 

 disappearance of so large a proportion of the young birds 

 seen at the beginning of the season. On a different type of 

 moor the results would probably be entirely reversed, thus 

 pointing to the need of adapting the principles of stock regulation 

 to meet the special requirements of the ground. 



Many artificial expedients have been adopted for the Artificial 

 improvement of Grouse stocks, either by raising their standard improving 

 of health or increasing their numbers. 



Of these the most generally adopted is that of introducing 

 fresh blood by importing eggs or live birds from other moors. 

 It is believed by many moor-owners that by this means 

 inbreeding and the consequent deterioration of the stock may 

 be avoided. 



This view raises an interesting point in the natural history 

 of the Grouse. 



There is no doubt that on some moors Grouse show a Migration, 

 tendency to remain upon the ground on which they are bred, 

 and do not develop the migratory habits referred to in other 

 parts of this work. The reason is usually pretty obvious, 

 for it is found that in the districts where the Grouse do not 

 wander in the winter it is because there are no other moors 

 in the vicinity where the conditions will be more favourable 

 than on their own ground. On the west coast of Scotland, 

 for example, owing to the mildness of the climate, the Grouse 

 are seldom driven off the high ground by snow ; and on the 

 moors of Yorkshire, though the general elevation may be 

 considerable, there are not the same marked extremes as in 

 the Scottish Highlands. This distinction is well shown by 

 Mr Stuart-Wortley in the Fur and Feather Series, where he 

 gives two sketches to illustrate the difference of conditions in 

 England and Scotland, and in his chapter on Grouse driving 

 he states : " On a Yorkshire moor you are driving on the tops 



