280 THE GROUSE 



the ravages of a small beetle {Lochmaea 

 suturalis), and late spring frosts have 

 spoilt many nests. 



A certain number of dead grouse are 

 found every April, and usually a number 

 of old blackcocks, probably weak birds 

 who have failed to thrive through the 

 winter. The ground is all under sheep, 

 and mostly heather and grass together, 

 there being little solid heather on any of 

 the beats. 



On Netherton beat, which comprises 

 2500 acres of heather, 380 brace were 

 killed in a day's driving in 1896, and 438 

 brace in 1907. 



Among the most prolific moors in Scot- 

 land are those on the Dalhousie estates in 

 Forfarshire, of which the Earl of Dalhousie 

 has kindly furnished me with the follow- 

 ing particulars : — 



Hunthill extends to 26,000, acres ; on 

 the Cairntrench beat of this moor, 

 Captain Tomasson, using only one gun, 

 shot 135^ brace in a day over dogs in 

 1897, and on another day in the same 



