52 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



It has been ingeniously suggested that some of the 

 t( scarce " years are possibly occasioned by the absence 

 of young shoots whereon the birds may feed, and this 

 may be remedied by a more systematic burning of the 

 old heather. Again, there is little doubt but that in- 

 breeding to a great measure deteriorates the stamina of 

 the birds, and therefore it would be expedient in all cases 

 to spare the young birds, or " cheepers ; '' whilst possibly 

 the mixture of a little Yorkshire blood would improve the 

 Scottish birds, and vice versa. 



Damp seasons, however, have most to answer for, and 

 the comparative warmth or dryness of the spring season 

 greatly facilitates the progress of nesting operations, and 

 also tends to increase the strength of the young birds, 

 who consequently are better able to escape the gun of the 

 sportsman during autumn and winter, and so bring fresh 

 vigour into the broods of the succeeding spring. 



It is sincerely to be hoped that some means may be 

 devised of keeping the stock of this purely indigenous 

 bird in a flourishing condition, both from motives of sport 

 and pleasure, and also from the (to some) more practical 

 reason of its value as food. 



