444 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



In districts where Grouse are not migratory, it is possible 

 that the introduction of foreign birds may be beneficial, and 

 this remark applies in particular to moors which are cut off 

 from other Grouse ground by arable land or by wide stretches 

 of water. Examples of such moors are the Lomond Hills in 

 Fife, the islands and peninsulas on the west coast of Scotland, 

 the Solway Moss in Dumfriesshire, and Cannock Chase in 

 Staffordshire. But the number of isolated moors is compara- 

 tively small. 



The success which has attended the introduction of new 

 blood to the Island of Rum is related in Messrs Harvie 

 Brown and Buckley's " Fauna of Argyll and the Inner 

 Hebrides." l 



" In this island, where there is a fair stock of native Grouse, 

 their chances of increase have been much assisted by the 

 introduction of fresh blood both from Meggernie in Perthshire 

 and from Yorkshire. About two hundred brace have been 

 introduced," and (writes Mr Bullough) " what is remarkable, 

 they assume the characteristics of native birds. One can 

 always get within shot. Is not this remarkable, seeing that in 

 Yorkshire and Meggernie they are so wild that one cannot 

 get near them in winter ? (in lit. 1889)." And in a later letter 

 it is said (November 1890) : " The new blood has done wonders 

 for the Grouse. We could kill six hundred brace any season 

 now, and three years ago the place would with difficulty yield 

 two hundred." 



Referring to Mr Bullough's remark as to these introduced 

 Grouse acquiring the habits of the West Country and insular 

 birds of sitting closely throughout the season (the authors) 

 " believe this habit may have rapidly developed from the 

 fact of the birds having realised that Rum is surrounded by 

 salt water, and that a very long flight would be necessary if 

 they desired to migrate ; and last, not least, that the abundant 

 heather in prime condition causes them to feel satisfied with 



1 "A Vertebrate Fauna of Argyll and the Inner Hebrides," Edinburgh: David 

 Douglas, 1892, pp. 155 et seq. 



