INTRODUCTION 



xv 



dicial to its growth ; they have been able to rear the young strongyle, and by 

 administering it through the medium of food to hand-reared Grouse free from 

 nematode infection, have infected the hand-reared birds with " Grouse Disease." 



Another interesting and important outcome of the Inquiry has been the 

 discovery of a cause of death among Grouse in their infancy due to the presence 

 of an intestinal parasite known as Eimeria (Coccidium) avium. It is unfortunate 

 that the Inquiry is being brought to a close while Dr Fantham is still engaged in 

 tracing the predisposing causes of this disease with a view to finding whether any 

 preventive measures are possible. It is true that such preventive measures, 

 even when found, might not be easily applied to the Grouse in a wild state ; but 

 they would be of the greatest possible value for the treatment of hand-reared 

 game-birds or domestic fowls. 



During the progress of the Inquiry many questions affecting Grouse and Grouse 

 shooting, but not directly connected with disease, have come before the notice of 

 the Committee, and owing to their general interest to readers of the Eeport it has 

 been thought well to refer to some of them. Since the Inquiry has been mainly 

 supported by those whose interests are more intimately connected with sport than 

 with science, the inclusion of chapters on such subjects of practical importance 

 as Moor Management, Heather-burning, Vermin, Keepers and the Value of Grouse 

 moors, requires no apology. The chapters of natural history, such as Life History, 

 Plumage changes, Food, Physiology and Death from Causes other than Disease, 

 are all indirectly connected with the main subjects of the Inquiry. 



It will be seen that by the inclusion of the above-mentioned chapters the Report 

 of the Committee becomes a monograph on the Red Grouse in health and disease 

 rather than a summary of the proceedings of a Departmental Committee of Inquiry. 



During the period of the Inquiry a large number of Pamphlets, Reports, and 

 Letters of Instructions have been printed and issued by the Committee to its local 

 correspondents and other supporters. These documents, in addition to the 

 " Notes on the Grouse " pamphlet already referred to, include Notes of Evidence 

 taken at the meetings of Committee, Lists of Queries, Forms of Particulars of 

 Specimens, Periodical Reports on the Progress of the Inquiry, Lists of Subscribers, 

 Lists of Local Correspondents, Statements of Crop-contents, Circular Letters to 

 Proprietors, etc., etc. In all more than 40,000 printed documents have been 

 circulated, in addition to a large number of typewritten circulars and letters, of 

 which no accurate record has been kept. 



The correspondence both of the Secretary and the Field Observer has been 



