Practical Game-Preserving. 212 



the many old birds which fall victims to wet and exposure 

 whilst seeking to protect their offspring. This chiefly 

 occurs on flat expanses of moor, where the soil is of a 

 heavy character and " cakes," with the result that the 

 rain lies upon the surface, accumulating in the hollows, 

 rendering it necessary for the old birds to repair to the 

 elevated spots and brave the wind, rain, and cold, with 

 the alternative of remaining in sheltered places and being 

 half-drowned. The result either way is similar and alike 

 deplorable. Endeavour should, therefore, be made to 

 discourage the nesting and frequenting of birds on such 

 undesirable parts of a moorland preserve. 



At certain seasons and upon certain moors there often 

 occurs an epidemic of tapeworm, which carries off hundreds 

 of young birds, and even acts very prejudicially on the old 

 ones, though they seem better able to cope with the malady, 

 and consequently suffer, in respect of mortality, to a less 

 extent. Tapeworm seems always present in some degree 

 of virulence among grouse; but at certain times of the 

 year, and in certain parts, it seems to get the upper hand, 

 and to carry off birds by scores. How it is acquired or 

 to what causes it may be attributed are questions scarcely 

 answerable, because of the peculiarly local character of the 

 visitations. All the birds on one side of a broad expand- 

 ing hill may be more or less affected, the young die off, 

 some of the old ones follow suit, and those which survive 

 bear an emaciated appearance, testifying to the prevalence 

 of the pernicious parasites ; whilst over the brow the birds 

 are quite free. Of course, the visitation does not always 

 show such noteworthy features. It, however, rarely 

 attacks a whole district, but rather small parts of several 

 districts. While, too, it may be present in one season, it 

 is absent in another, although the conditions of climate 

 appear to be precisely similar. The only satisfactory 



