Practical Game-Preserving. 198 



speculations rather than exclusively for sporting purposes, 

 whose owners would be but too glad to earn the highly 

 remunerative rates live grouse would bring them. The 

 transportation is most easily effected in dark hampers and 

 baskets; but as the birds will probably neither feed nor 

 drink while confined, it is of paramount importance that 

 the removal be as expeditious as possible. I would, 

 however, rely far more on the hand- rearing of birds than 

 on turning down, either for the nucleus of a head of game 

 or for the increase of the present stock. They are mode- 

 rately easily reared, and under any circumstances this is 

 sure to be found the most practical mode. 



The maintenance of a stock of grouse depends chiefly 

 upon the assiduity with which vermin is killed down and 

 upon the careful protection of the game from poachers, 

 but also to a considerable extent on guarding the birds 

 against the evils incidental to sheep-farming and on the 

 periodical introduction of fresh blood in the shape of eggs 

 brought from a distance, hatched out either under a hen 

 grouse naturally or hand-reared and turned down. Moors 

 will sometimes get game-sick, and the production of a 

 superabundance of birds will often bring about an epidemic 

 " disease," which will be set down to a dozen causes other 

 than the right one. 



