440 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



the nesting season is to form an estimate of the shooting prospects, though 



improve- as w ^l be shown later an early knowledge on this point is of primary 



importance in regulating the stock. The foregoing remarks are intended 



J i 



ground. merely to emphasise how closely a keeper may keep in touch with his 

 duties without unduly disturbing his ground. In the performance of these duties 

 many practical benefits result. The observant keeper will first of all note which 

 areas are most favoured by nesting birds, and will try to discover what are the 

 particular conditions which may be profitably introduced in the less favoured 

 areas. Some of the favourable conditions may arise from the configuration of 

 the country, a sunny exposure, good natural drainage, shelter from the coldest 

 winds, etc.; but many may be reproduced by artificial means. Natural drainage 

 may be to some extent replaced by carefully constructed artificial drains, the 

 patent dew-pan may be substituted for the burn which has run dry, or a drain 

 and conduits may be constructed to bring a copious supply of running water 

 through the driest parts of the moor. Bad feeding may be improved by intelligent 

 heather culture, gravel may be exposed, or heaps of broken quartz deposited, in 

 the soft, peaty parts of the ground where there is a deficiency of grit ; and thus 

 the nesting capacity of the moor may be extended. It may be argued 

 that the Grouse will always prefer to nest in the places which possess good 

 natural conditions, and this is no doubt true ; still a season will come when 

 a specially heavy stock has been left, and the possession of a reserve of nesting 

 ground may mean the salvation of a moor which otherwise would become 

 overcrowded. 



On his visits of inspection during the nesting season the keeper's hands 

 should never be empty, and his eyes should never be closed to the work to 

 improve- ^e done, the drainer's spade will be found more useful than the gun, 

 dra?nsand an( ^ * en mmu tes' work will convert a choked- up spring into a clear 

 springs. drinking pool. The dangerous banks of steep-sided drains may be 

 sloped away at suitable intervals, so as to make safe landing stages for any 

 chicks that may be caught unawares by a thunder shower. The fan-shaped 

 morass which spreads down hill from every spouting spring will be tapped at 

 its source, and thus acres of green moss and rushes will be turned again to 

 heather. This will not be the only advantage gained ; every stroke of the spade 

 will turn up the grit so often described as " the life of the moor." 



There is no room for vermin and an active gamekeeper on the same beat. 

 His constant presence drives away what he cannot destroy, or at least disturbs 



