116 THE GROUSE 



other living animal. What is generally 

 meant when disease in grouse is referred 

 is to the peculiar, sudden, and frequently 

 virulent epizootic which periodically 

 sweeps through wide districts, carrying 

 off immense numbers of birds, and leaving 

 probably still larger numbers in a weakly 

 and unhealthy condition. This disease is 

 believed to be identical with the disease 

 which was investigated by Dr. E. Klein 

 about twenty years ago, and since then 

 has sometimes been called " Klein's disease 

 of the grouse." That grouse are not 

 affected by this specific disease alone, but 

 occasionally die in large numbers from 

 other causes, has been proved, or rather 

 has proved itself, since the investigating 

 Committee set to work in 1904. Since 

 that year there has been no notable out- 

 break of Klein's disease ; but the Com- 

 mittee record that they have received 

 "innumerable grouse said by the game- 

 keepers and moor-owners to be affected 

 with or killed by ' the ' disease which 

 further investigation has shown to have 



