CHAPTER III 



THE GROUSE AND ITS ENEMIES 



THE most important factor in grouse preserving is a 

 judicious treatment of the heather which clothes the 

 slopes of our northern hills. Of course many other 

 points have to be considered. If we allow the moors 

 to become overstocked, we increase the susceptibility 

 of the game to the various forms of disease which 

 have been so cleverly exploited by Dr. Klein and 

 other scientific workers. But the vital question in 

 the management of a grouse moor is the maintenance 

 of a proper food supply. Grouse are hard}' fowl, 

 and can face wet seasons, not indeed with impunity, 

 yet without seriously losing ground. They are well 

 accustomed to meet the vicissitudes of our stormy 

 and changeable climate. In droughty seasons they 

 vary their diet with an additional share of blaeberries. 

 Does the snow fall swiftly and thickly on the brae? 

 the grouse have long since learnt full well by experi- 

 ence of hard times how to find the gullies where the 



