220 STUDIES IN INSECT LIFE, ETC. 



survive the first six or seven weeks of their life 

 they usually live to grow up. This disease cer- 

 tainly abates during the summer, but it does not 

 recrudesce during the autumn. Strongylosis also 

 occurs most virulently in the spring, when the 

 birds are exhausted by a winter of semi-starva- 

 tion and the female especially by the demands 

 made on her by egg-laying ; it is also prevalent 

 in autumn, but the worst cases have by this 

 time presumably been killed off, and those not 

 so heavily afflicted are still struggling to survive. 

 It is not as a rule reported during June and July, 

 but very few know what happens on the moor 

 during these months. The grouse are almost 

 unseen, their state of health unknown. This 

 again is a matter for further inquiry, but at present 

 the view that " disease " dies down during the 

 summer has little but negative evidence to sup- 

 port it. It probably lingers on, gradually lessen- 

 ing in intensity until the near approach of August 

 I2th again attracts the attention of the moor 

 owner and the sportsman to his birds. 



With regard to the prevention of the disease, 

 a hopeful view can be taken. Intelligent man- 

 agement has already diminished and in certain 

 cases almost, if not quite, eliminated the danger 



