122 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



market are retailed affords sufficient indication as to the 

 reason for this haste on the part of the moorland 

 poacher. Many people like to have grouse upon the 

 table upon the opening day of the shooting season, and 

 to gratify this desire they usually have to pay from gs. 

 to I2s. 6d. per brace for good young birds. In times of 

 scarcity, after a bad hatching season, or when disease is 

 rampant on the moors, as much as 15^. a brace may 

 have to be paid for the luxury. 



The overstocking of a moor is certainly liable to 

 engender disease ; due care, therefore, should at all 

 times be exercised to insure against a superabundant 

 stock of grouse being left on a moor at the end of the 

 shooting season. The burning of a due proportion of 

 heather is another matter that should be carefully looked 

 after, as this in its results proves a great help in keeping 

 grouse in a healthy condition. Grouse vary considerably 

 in weight, according to situation ; adult males weigh 

 about 22 oz. to 24 oz., and hens some three or four 

 ounces less, but birds are sometimes shot weighing 2 Ib. 

 Male grouse measure 16 inches in length. From eight 

 to ten eggs are laid in a general way, but clutches of 

 fifteen are sometimes met with. 



THE PTARMIGAN. (Lagopus mutus.) 



In grouseland we find birds black, red, and white ; the 

 first two have already been discussed ; the white grouse 

 is the bird known as the ptarmigan. This uncouth- 

 looking name has been bestowed upon a creature that is 

 in itself not a little singular, both as regards habits and 

 appearance. The ptarmigan prefers to exist, year in 

 and year out, upon some of the most barren ground to 



