42 Among the Birds in Northern Shires. 



impunity, and every bird that comes in his way. We 

 well remember how one of the most disastrous moor- 

 land fires in South Yorkshire was attributed to these 

 gypsies. Some of their number, we believe, had been 

 prosecuted for poaching or egg-stealing, and out of 

 revenge the moors were fired. For days the heather 

 burned in all directions in spite of every effort to sub- 

 due it, and vast numbers of Grouse were destroyed 

 in the flames, and their ancient strongholds reduced 

 to a blackened waste. The fire, which we could see 

 from our residence at Heeley, was a most impressive 

 sight by night, and must have cost the owner of the 

 moors a large sum even in the mechanical labour of 

 arresting its progress, to say nothing of the destruc- 

 tion of the long heather which takes years to replace 

 and become suitable cover for Grouse. As some 

 readers may be aware, the heather is systematically 

 fired, usually in spring, so that a supply of tender 

 shoots from the resprouting ling may be furnished 

 as food for the Grouse. Great judgment and 

 care are required, or vast tracts of cover may 

 be ruined for years. We have known farmers so 

 destroy many acres of valuable Grouse cover purely 

 to secure pasturage for sheep. The Grouse loves 

 to frequent this long, well-matured ling; it affords 

 a splendid shelter during winter, whilst the buds 

 and tender tops form favourite food. Next to the 

 Ptarmigan, the Red Grouse is by far the wildest 



