274 FIELD-NOTES FOR THE YEAR. CH. XIX. 



distance towards Darnaway, a servant who had 

 been accustomed to feed and pet it, but taking 

 alarm at some people at work in a field it turned 

 back again. I do not know what was the end of 

 the pretty animal, but towards the winter it dis- 

 appeared, and I fear it was shot by some poaching 

 fellow whilst feeding in the fields where it was 

 often seen. Its silver bell made it both an easier 

 and a more valuable victim. 



August 12 th. — On this (to so many people) dies 

 memorabilis, whilst shooting with a friend in Inver- 

 ness-shire, I found a few old grouse lying dead, 

 killed by the prevailing disease, which of late years 

 has committed such havoc amongst these birds in 

 certain districts; some which we killed were already 

 attacked by it. Whenever this was the case we in- 

 variably observed that the plumage of the bird was 

 much altered, having a rusty red appearance instead 

 of the fine rich colour characteristic of the grouse. 

 The feathers, too, had an unnatural kind of dryness 

 about them, which gave the bird a bleached, un- 

 healthy, look. In those grouse which I opened 

 myself the presence of the disease was indicated 

 by the liver being apparently rotten. 



Whatever is the cause of this mortality, it is a 

 matter of some consequence to the proprietors of 

 those districts where the grouse-shootings let for as 



