CHAPTER XXII. 



RED GROUSE: Diseases. 



THE conditions under which grouse are preserved are so 

 essentially natural that the diseases to which they are 

 subject are far from numerous, and, with one exception, 

 by no means virulent. They are for the most part inci- 

 dental to the early life of the birds, or brought about by 

 inclemencies of weather. The epidemic of "grouse 

 disease " proper can only be accounted for by the altered 

 circumstances of existence in over-preservation. Young 

 grouse in a natural state are subject to catarrh, chills, and 

 a species of roup. All these are due primarily to atmo- 

 spheric conditions. The first-named may occur in the 

 young at any time before reaching the stage known as 

 half -grown. The same, also, may be said of roup ; but 

 chills are mostly caught by the very young birds during 

 more than ordinarily wet spring-times on the moors. Very 

 little can be done to aid the youngsters to combat these 

 maladies ; indeed, it is questionable if they are not better 

 when left to take their chance. If one be always prowling 

 about looking out for sick and weakly youngsters to convey 

 to the fireside for warmth and comfort, the disturbance to 

 the broods generally must be far more prejudicial than the 

 gain to individuals would warrant. 



Drowning out is a common accident to young grouse, 

 and carries off hundreds on some moors, not to mention 



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