148 SHOOTING THE GROUSE 



average of stock to be found on elevated Scotch 

 shootings. It is well known that in deer forests, 

 where the great object is to get rid of grouse, the best 

 means to arrive at this end is to leave them alone 

 altogether. The result is that in a great measure they 

 die out ; at any rate, their numbers dwindle to the 

 lowest possible point. There are two reasons for 

 this : one that the race becomes vitiated and reduced 

 by in-breeding, the other that the older birds interfere 

 with the matrimonial arrangements of the younger, to 

 the prejudice of the offspring. 



The latter evil prevails more than the former 

 among the birds I have mentioned as inhabiting the 

 higher portions of Scotch shootings. In the pairing 

 season the old warriors come down from the heights, 

 fight with and vanquish the younger ones, and absorb 

 the young hens ; the latter lay nests full of eggs, but 

 they are sterile ; while the more youthful and capable 

 cock bird, who would become the parent of a healthy 

 brood, is either driven off the ground altogether or 

 obliged to remain in a state of combative celibacy. 

 The old hens also, who are beyond the age of laying, 

 attack any young hen who may nest near them, driving 

 her off her nest, thus causing the eggs to get cold and 

 the incubation to be abortive. 



The old barren hens are bad enough, but the old 



