Practical Game-Preserving. 230 



in the approved fashion. The maintenance of a stock 

 of Black Game is effected by the same procedure as that 

 necessary to introduce a supply ; and an increase of the 

 existent stock is only to be expected if the birds be kept 

 free from disturbance, be looked after in winter, and be 

 on a favourable estate. In these respects a good deal of 

 what has been written regarding Red Grouse holds good 

 of the Black Grouse also. 



Black Game are not much exposed to poachers, but 

 there are several causes besides vermin which may con- 

 tribute to their diminution. The burning of the heather 

 is one very fruitful cause, late hunting another. 



The vermin which are chiefly injurious to Black Game 

 are, for the most part, the same that destroy Red Grouse. 

 The diseases, of course, are very similar, if not identical ; 

 but as far as my experience goes, grouse disease proper 

 is practically confined to the Red Grouse; and although 

 Black Game sometimes die off in large quantities, still it 

 is not always, in fact very rarely, from " the epidemic " 

 which destroys the moor-fowl of the Highlands and North 

 of England moors. In southern parts of the country, 

 where no Red Grouse exist, the Black Game sometimes 

 suffer very considerably from the same diseases which 

 affect partridges. 



Though this game-bird is one not easily poached, and 

 one which alone does not pay for being feloniously killed, 

 yet a good many are got by those who go in for hare- 

 poaching and moor-fowl snaring and netting. It is a bird 

 easily snared and easily trapped, where it exists in any 

 great number, and both practices are often indulged in. 



The food of both grouse and Black Game bears so great 

 an influence upon the general health of the stock, and is at 

 times so difficult to provide of the nature and in the 

 quantities necessary, that very severe losses are incurred. 



