ON GROUSE-DRIVING 163 



be found that most coveys had paid their 

 fair toll to man. 



But driving helps a moor most by 

 removing the old birds, which never fall 

 to the gun by any other method. A 

 pair of old grouse will require a far larger 

 stretch of ground for nesting operations 

 than younger birds. They actively resent 

 any intrusion on the territory they have 

 settled on for their own, and eventually 

 rear a small brood where two pair of 

 younger birds might have found range 

 and food for their stronger and more 

 numerous families. Still less desirable 

 are the old cocks of bachelor habits. 

 They rank with the worst of vermin, 

 and the large numbers of them which fall 

 to the gun by driving form the most 

 sensible influence in the improvement of 

 the moor. 



Grouse -driving has always been the 

 subject of much criticism ; and even to- 

 day many and bitter are the comments 

 on this branch of sport, usually penned 

 by writers who have had but little practical 



