CH. XXVIII. MARKET SUPPLY OF GROUSE. 129 



state of ground or climate. The worst feature of 

 the case is, that as yet nothing approaching to a 

 cure or preventive has been discovered. I should 

 be very much inclined in a diseased district to 

 shoot hard for a season, instead of sparing the sur- 

 vivors ; and then to give the grouse a year or two 

 of entire rest and immunity from dog and gun. 

 If the hills are let to strangers from a distance 

 during a scarcity of this kind, it is natural to expect 

 that, having no interest in them beyond the season, 

 and paying a considerable rent, they will shoot as 

 many birds as they can, without thinking of the 

 future ; and as in general the grounds are each 

 year let to new tenants, the same thing will occur 

 again and again until the birds are nearly extinct. 



Luckily in favourable seasons and on good 

 ground grouse seem to grow and increase almost 

 like the heather among which they dwell, and the 

 hills soon get stocked again. The number of 

 grouse sent to the markets in London, and in all 

 the large towns in England, from the beginning of 

 August to the end of the season, is perfectly 

 astonishing ; and indeed until March any quantity 

 of grouse can be procured from the poulterers and 

 game dealers. Immense must be the slaughter to 

 afford this supply : the greatest portion are shot ; 

 but in some districts considerable numbers are 



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