THE MOOR 155 



requires water. It may also be required of the keeper 

 to get rid of those many deep undermining pools, which 

 are apt to form in the course of streams, and which are 

 death-traps for young birds, not to mention sheep. 

 The undermined parts must be filled in and the sides 

 of the pool shelved. This should really be done by 

 the careful shepherd, but he doesn't like the spade any 

 more than the keeper. The question of the efficient 

 draining of the moor is of equal importance. No 

 definite laws can be laid down as to the nature and 

 extent of the drains. Each case must be judged on 

 its individual merits. Many keepers are apt in this 

 matter to proceed upon some stereotyped line, and to 

 miss the idiosyncrasies of the moors under their control. 

 Drains should, as a rule, be wide and shallow, and 

 should be formed with sloping sides. They should 

 never be too deep. 1 On no account must there be 

 over-draining ; but this is not a danger that need gener- 

 ally be feared. We have tramped over many a moor 

 that has been swampy and boggy and besotted, and 

 upon which we have observed the gradual disappear- 

 ance of the heather, moors which were destined to 

 become useless as breeding or holding ground for birds. 

 All wet holes covered with green vegetation are most 

 unhealthy both to birds and sheep, and should be 

 drained. They are common in every moor, but with 



1 Deep drains may be " roaded," which is done by making an incline 

 at right angles to the main drain, at intervals of a hundred yards. The 

 " roading " is of assistance to the birds in getting to the water. 



