230 GROUSE DISEASE 



those on the tops are the most likely places, and the 

 •peat-hags' are also sure ground. 



These 'hags' are formed by the peat having been 

 cut out for firing ; and I cannot but think that, in dry 

 seasons when there is a scarcity of water, the water 

 which collects in these places is a great source of 

 disease to grouse which frequent them. 



Of course, there are many moors where there is 

 always a good suppl}^ of water from springs, and in 

 which the little brooks which run along the hill-sides 

 afford a sufficiency. 



Bad weather is also well known to be a constant 

 cause of grouse-disease. As a rule disease is most 

 manifest after a large show of birds in a dry season, 

 and I am convinced that the moss-water to which I 

 have referred has very much to do with it in cases 

 where good, pure water is scarce, and the heather is 

 coarse and tough. 



I had a small moor for twenty years, and neither I 

 nor my neighbour who owned the one adjoining it, 

 was ever troubled with grouse-disease on these 

 grounds, for the water-supply was ever plentiful and 

 good, even in the very driest seasons. On the other 

 hand, our neighbours' birds suffered considerably. 

 On their moors the water was bad and scarce, and 

 what little there was at times was impregnated with 

 peat. I believe that the bad water was more to blame 

 than the bad weather. 



Heather-burnino: has been carried on as lonof as I 

 can remember, and there are generally plenty of young 

 shoots, even in the worst seasons and after late frosts ; 

 and where there has been no scarcity of nice young 

 heather, and the latter has been first-rate, disease has 



