THE WAYS OF GROUSE 97 



numerous and agreeable resting-places, than on 

 broken ground and rocky hill faces. 



As to the rate of speed at which a Grouse travels 

 when going at his best pace various estimates have 

 been given, but in most cases they have been mere 

 guesses. Perhaps the nearest approach to truth was 

 achieved by the late Major Fisher, who, in the 

 writer's presence, once flew a trained Falcon at a 

 Grouse which saved itself by dashing into a planta- 

 tion exactly a mile from the place where the 

 bird rose. The flight was timed with a stop 

 watch, and the distance was covered in fifty-eight 

 seconds. Being in front of a pursuing Falcon, it 

 may be assumed that the Grouse in its efforts to 

 escape was flying at its highest rate of speed. 



The average weight of an old Grouse is from 

 20 oz. to 24 oz. The heaviest Scotch birds have 

 been found to weigh 28 oz., and some have been 

 killed in Orkney weighing as much as 30 oz. As a 

 rule, cock birds weigh about 3 oz. more than hens, 

 the weight depending upon the abundance of good 

 food that the birds are able to obtain, as well as 

 upon freedom from disease. 



The subject of Grouse disease is one that cannot 

 be discussed in a few lines. It has claimed the atten- 

 tion of so many observers, and evoked so many dif- 

 ferent opinions, that it would be impossible in the space 

 here available to deal with the various views which 

 have been expressed. It must suffice to state a few 

 facts as briefly as possible. The late Dr Cobbold, 

 a high authority on the nature and development of 

 parasites, considered that the disease was due to 



