BIRD-LIFE ON THE MOORS IN OCTOBER. 105 



the lowland woods, reconnoitring along the roadside, and 

 feasting on the dead and dying. I meet them regularly at 

 dawn as I walk across the moors to catch the early morning 

 train. 



In order to give some idea of the mischievous nature of 

 these wires, and of the cruelty and ceaseless suffering they 

 occasion to the moor birds, I copy the following few extracts 

 from my shooting diary : " Oct. 6. Found to-day four Grouse 

 which had been severely damaged by flying against the tele- 

 graph wires on Elsdon Hillhead. Two were already dead, 

 and pulled to bits by the Crows. The third had evidently 

 received his wound late the night before, and the blow had 

 completely carried away his crop, which at that time would 



PEEWITS A MIDDAY SIESTA. 



be full of heather. The poor bird had been hungry this 

 morning, and, regardless or oblivious of having no crop, had 

 been feeding, his throat down to the huge gash being 

 crammed with heather shoots. I never saw anything more 

 pitiable in my life. This bird could still fly, but very weakly, 

 and could not possibly long have survived. The fourth 

 Grouse had been injured some time before. He also had 

 received a horrible gash across the breast, but it appeared to 

 be slowly healing. His breast was bare of feathers, and the 

 old skin was hard and yellow, a mass of clotted blood re- 

 maining in the cut. This bird flew nearly half a mile when 

 put up by the keeper (driving), but was very weak and un- 

 willing to rise." " Oct. 17. Every day this week, when 



