ii2 Practical Game Preserving. 



climate to that upon which they are to be introduced at least, 

 as much so as possible, for unless they are, the likelihood 

 is that a large percentage will fail to establish themselves. 

 The spring is the most favourable time for obtaining birds, 

 and the autumn the next desirable. If in the spring, the 

 earlier the better, as soon as winter is really gone, as there 

 is then good opportunity offered the birds to breed during 

 the ensuing months. In autumn young birds may be ob- 

 tained and turned away sufficiently early for them to learn 

 the ins and outs and resources of their new lands. The 

 birds are best conveyed to their destination late in the day, 

 and liberated at dusk. Some food may be scattered around 

 in case it be required at first. Of course, the difficulty 

 is found in the securing and conveyance of the birds. For 

 the first, we should trust to a reliable keeper and to our own 

 endeavours in the neighbourhood and elsewhere. There are 

 many grouse moors held as commercial speculations rather 

 than exclusively for sporting purposes, whose owners would 

 be but too glad to earn the highly remunerative rates live 

 grouse would bring them. The transportation is most easily 

 effected in dark hampers and baskets ; but as the birds will 

 probably neither feed nor drink while confined, it is of 

 paramount importance that the removal be as expeditious 

 as possible. We would, however, rely far more on the hand- 

 rearing of birds than on turning down, either for the nucleus 

 of a head of game or the increase of the present stock. 

 They are easily reared, and under any circumstances this 

 is sure to be found the most practical mode. Of the details 

 of this we shall treat in the following chapter. 



The maintenance of a stock of grouse depends chiefly 



