274 FIELD-XOTES FOR THE YEAR. CH. XIX. 



been accustomed to feed cand pet it, but taking 

 alarm at some people at work in a field, it turned 

 back again. I do not know what was the end of 

 the pretty animal, but towards the winter it disap- 

 peared, and I fear it was shot by some poaching 

 fellow whilst feeding in the fields where it was often 

 seen. Its silver bell made it both an easier and 

 a more valuable victim. 



August 12th. — On this (to so many people) dies 

 memorabilis, whilst shooting with a friend in Inver- 

 ness-shire, I found a few old grouse lying dead, 

 killed by the prevailing disease, which of late years 

 has committ(^d such havoc amongst these birds in 

 certain districts ; some which we killed were already 

 attacked by it. AMienever this was the case we in- 

 variably observed that the plumage of the bird was 

 much altered, having a rusty red appearance instead 

 of the fine rich colour characteristic of the grouse. 

 The feathers, too, had an unnatural kind of dryness 

 about them, which gave the bird a bleached, un- 

 healthy look. In those grouse which I opened 

 myself the presence of the disease was indicated by 

 the liver being apparently rotten. 



Whatever is the cause of this mortality, it is a 

 matter of some consequence to the proprietors of 

 those districts where the gi-ouse shootings let for as 

 high or a higher rent than the sheep pasturage ; for 



