14 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



than when it is newly hatched, for its size prevents it from being completely 

 covered by the hen when cold weather or heavy rain sets in. 



The period immediately following hatching, though so critical, is the period 

 regarding which least is known. Few keepers like to disturb the ground at this 

 time, and so the young bird's battle for life is fought unobserved, and only the 

 closest and most patient observation would reveal the true conditions under 

 which the chick's existence is passed. 



The young Grouse, even although they may be squatting within a few feet of 

 the observer, are very difficult to find ; they seem to have the power of making 

 themselves invisible at will, as they cunningly crouch by the side of a tuft of 

 grass or heather, which often matches in colour the yellow, brown, and chestnut 

 mottled down that covers their little bodies for the first few weeks. When 

 at last a chick is discovered and lifted up in the hand its first " cheep " is the 

 signal for the others to scuttle away out of their places of concealment, or, if 

 they are upwards of a month old, to make their effort at escape by a short 

 flight, after which they are apparently incapable of a second attempt. 



It is astonishing how little accurate knowledge we have of the 

 dangersto principal dangers to which the young Grouse is exposed, 

 groufe The practical gamekeeper admits that many dangers exist, and 



without weighing them too closely in the balance he does all he can to 

 mitigate each of them. He knows, however, that in spite of his care there 

 must be a certain percentage of losses from one cause or another, and it is with 

 some anxiety that he proceeds to the moor towards the end of July to inspect 

 the condition of the stock. The result is sometimes unexpected, often he finds 

 the birds have safely survived the perils of youth, and that the moor is well 

 stocked with unbroken coveys ; at other times he is perplexed to discover that 



the well-filled nests and successful hatchings are represented by a few 

 able dis- ragged broods of two or three birds, and a large number of barren 

 of young pairs. He endeavours to account for the disappearance of the young 



birds, and in his search for a reason he eventually hits upon some- 

 thing which has some appearance of plausibility, and frequent repetition soon 

 places theory in the realm of established fact. 



Migration is one of the commonest theories, and is supported by the fact 



that few, if any, dead bodies are found on the ground. The migration 



doctrine presents some difficulties, for the Grouse in its earlier stages 

 is not by nature a wanderer, and a brood is usually found, at all events 



