The Red Grouse Diseases. 121 



warmth and comfort, the disturbance to the broods generally 

 must be far more prejudicial than the gain to individuals 

 would warrant. 



Drowning out is a common accident to young grouse, 

 and carries off hundreds on some moors, not to mention 

 the many old birds which fall victims to wet and exposure 

 whilst seeking to protect their offspring. This chiefly occurs 

 on flat expanses of moor, where the soil is " peaty ; " the 

 rain lies upon the surface accumulating in the hollows, 

 rendering it necessary for the old birds to repair to the 

 elevated spots and brave the wind, rain, and cold, with 

 the alternative of remaining in sheltered places and being 

 half drowned. The result either way is similar and alike 

 deplorable. Endeavour should, therefore, be made to dis- 

 courage the nesting and frequenting of birds on such 

 undesirable parts of a moorland preserve. 



At certain seasons and upon certain moors there often 

 occurs an epidemic of tapeworm, which carries off hundreds 

 of young birds, and even acts very prejudicially on the 

 old ones, though they seem better able to cope with the 

 malady, and consequently suffer, in respect of mortality, 

 to a less extent. Tapeworm seems always present in some 

 degree of virulence among grouse, but at certain times of 

 the year, and in certain parts, it seems to get the upper 

 hand, and to carry off birds by scores. How it is acquired 

 or to what causes it may be attributed are questions scarcely 

 answerable, because of the peculiar local character of the 

 visitations. All the birds on one side of a broad expanding 

 hill may be more or less affected, the young die off, some 

 of the old ones follow suit, and those which survive bear 



