INVERERNE. 



1846. 



GROUSE disease is attributed to tapeworm. I am more inclined 

 to think that the actual disease is an affection of the liver, and 

 that the birds attacked by this liver disease areTsubject to tape- 

 worm frequently, but far from invariably, as on opening the dead 

 birds that showed symptoms of the illness, we always found the 

 liver to be much diseased, but seldom, very seldom, found any 

 mark of tapeworm. 



There is striking peculiarity in the sick birds. Their breast 

 feathers become of a dull reddish brown, quite different from the 

 colour of a healthy bird, and the plumage altogether is not 

 so bright or glossy as that of a healthy grouse. 



I never observed so rich a bloom on the heather. As the 

 dogs hunted, they were accompanied by a cloud of dust, or rather 

 pollen from the flowers, which very much spoilt their scent. The 

 perfume of the heather, like that of honey, was quite striking as 

 we walked over the hills. 



