of Edinburgh, Session 1873 - 74 . 379 
the author was led to estimate the number of these worms in one 
of his birds as at least 4800. 
There is, however, no definite line between birds with and those 
without this disease, for almost every grouse is the “ host ” of 
fewer or more of the parasites. Of eleven birds carefully examined 
by the author, with the aid of Mr Stirling of the University 
Anatomical Museum, in one only, a fine Irish cock weighing 
one pound eleven ounces, were none detected. The other birds 
examined were from various localities : those containing the fewest 
worms, and of the heaviest weight, were from Ireland and Orkney ; 
those from Lanarkshire, East Perthshire, and Sutherland were the 
most affected by the worm and most emaciated. 
So far the author concurs with the writers named above, that one 
form of grouse disease is this helminthiasis, due to the Strongylus , 
which destroys the birds by ultimately annulling the functions 
of the caeca, in which the real digestion of the birds’ food goes 
on. The mucous membrane is not inflamed, but irritated, throw- 
ing off great quantities of large columnar epithelium, and instead 
of true feeculent matter, or remains of food, the intestines and 
caeca usually contain only a pinkish grey mucus. The caeca, 
however, seem occasionally to be softer and more easily torn than 
is natural. In none of these birds was any other morbid appear- 
ance found capable of accounting for their morbid state. 
It is not yet clear to the author, however, that this helminthiasis 
is the disease which has so often swept the moors of Scotland 
and England. It is quite possible it may be so, and there is 
nothing in its rapid spread on particular moors in certain seasons 
to prevent its being due to parasites; but the author thinks that 
further inquiry is desirable, and, speaking as a sportsman, would 
suggest to the proprietors and tenants of moors, which are now 
so valuable as to be a subject of national importance, to raise 
by subscription a sufficient fund to enable them to commission 
some competent naturalist to work out the subject. The genesis 
of the worms, both Strongyli and Taeniae , in a scientific point of 
view, irrespective of the hope of some practical conclusion, appears 
to be worth the expenditure of some money. 
3 c 
VOL. VIII. 
