205 Red Grouse. 



and would no doubt have gathered more only for an un- 

 fortunate accident which occurred one night, when a fierce 

 storm of wind uprooted the standards of the aviary and 

 tore off a large part of the boarding, allowing every bird 

 to escape. Although their wings were cut, we only 

 recovered seven of the birds, and heard of two having 

 been killed by a dog three days later at a distance of fully 

 five miles from where they escaped, which conclusively 

 proves the extraordinary extent of their running powers. 



The following method I have found to give the best 

 results in rearing grouse, and with the proper care and 

 management necessary, and punctual attendance to the 

 birds during stated periods, I see no reason why, if the 

 instructions are faithfully carried out, others should not 

 obtain the same encouragement by their efforts in the rear- 

 ing of grouse. 



I had considerable difficulty in the procuring of eggs for 

 my series of experiments, and after a great deal of trouble 

 at last succeeded in procuring forty -two, and considered 

 myself very fortunate to get these. Had it not been 

 through the kindness of a gentleman, himself a proprietor 

 of a large moor, I should have been greatly handicapped 

 in getting them at all. These were set under four Buff 

 Orpington hens. 



The boxes were stationed outside and against the wall of 

 an outhouse facing the west, the eggs being deposited on 

 heather nests, made up to correspond as near as possible 

 with the natural nest, with the addition of a layer of soft 

 grass between the heather and the ground. In choosing 

 hens for the hatching of grouse eggs, or, in fact, any 

 eggs, care should be taken to see that the birds are healthy 

 and especially free from insects. If this is not attended 

 to before ' setting,' the annoyance by the pests to the 

 sitting hens will cause them to become restless on the 



