THE MOOR 167 



are sure to be, better than those of the adjoining lands, 

 and on this account the sheep will naturally migrate to 

 the best grazing-grounds, and will as a result injure 

 their feeding capacity. The moors will also be con- 

 stantly disturbed by the shepherds' dogs driving back 

 the sheep to their legitimate ground. Along the march 

 of a moor which is not fenced, it is advantageous not 

 to burn the heather, but to leave it long and rank. 

 Where such a condition exists, the sheep will not stray 

 across the march. 



On the question of sheep and grouse moors Mr. 

 Tom Speedy writes : " Let us assume that there is a 

 good stock of game, and the nesting season all that 

 can be desired. About the 2oth of May hatching has 

 commenced, and large broods are by this time follow- 

 ing the parent birds. This is also the period for 

 gathering the sheep, with the view of marking the 

 lambs. Shepherds and their dogs are out betimes to 

 the marches of their respective hirsels. The process 

 commences, and the flocks are driven in a homeward 

 direction. Eventually the shepherds meet and the 

 sheep are concentrated in an immense flock, sometimes 

 amounting to thousands, and driven towards the 

 'fanks.' Those who have witnessed the gathering 

 of a flock as described, and have seen them driven in 

 a solid line many hundreds of yards in width across a 

 heathery hillside, must at times have speculated as to 

 the probable fate of grouse eggs and newly hatched 

 chicks. With this end in view, we have devoted many 



