The Black Grouse 3 1 
disposition of grouse and pheasants, which often nest again or lay more eggs if the 
first clutch is destroyed. Whilst upon the subject of decrease, I may say that the chief 
causes are : (i) Lack of fertility amongst the females, after a few years ; (2) the worry they 
have to submit to from old and unfertile Blackcocks, which never allow a young male 
to come to the breeding ground ; and (3) indiscriminate slaughter of hens, whether barren 
or not ; and lastly, change in the condition of local environment. In the north the 
grounds that are the true home of Blackgame at the nesting season are at the mercy of 
the laird, who likes to make every available sixpence off his property, irrespective of 
the requirements of the shooting tenant, who sometimes pays a truly terrible rent, and 
allows the farmer to run sheep and ponies over the rough ground at a small fee. This 
is sure to be disastrous to the Blackgame, and in lesser degree to the grouse, for it 
means the ever-hunting collie always on the look-out for prey or fun. Many lessees of 
shooting, going to their northern lodges in August, are totally unaware of the mischief 
caused by dogs, but it has been going on all the same. At Murthly sheep and ponies 
were run for many years on the rough moor round the bog, and when I got my father 
to buy off the farmer we increased the bag of ducks, grouse, and Blackgame 500 per 
cent, before we left. I could name many similar instances. Secondly, there is no 
systematic killing of the old Blackcocks, which as a rule survive year after year, 
owing to the tenant being too busy with the grouse, or not paying sufficient attention 
to killing them because their destruction is sometimes a little difficult. A certain way 
of killing these old patriarchs is stalking them with a small rifle in October, an 
admirable form of sport, or shooting them at the " lek," which should be done with 
moderation every year. The female under all circumstances should outnumber the 
male 6 or 8 to 1. Barren old Greyhens, too, can be shot at the playing-grounds after 
the 15th of May, because every Greyhen which frequents the "lek" after this date is 
sure to be barren. Breeding females do not return to the playing-ground after they 
have once commenced to sit. Thirdly, no Greyhens should be shot at any other season 
under any pretence whatever, as single hens, so often called barren by keepers because 
they have no broods with them, may have had their nests destroyed, and may be quite 
fertile another year. In places where Black Grouse are well treated a fine of ten shillings 
is imposed for killing a Greyhen, and this is an excellent rule. 
My uncle, Mr. George Stibbard, rented the shooting of Syre, in Strath-naver, for 
ten years. In the first five, his average bag of Blackgame was about ten, and he and 
his neighbour, Major Burnell, who rented the other side of the valley, shot male and 
female more or less indiscriminately. I persuaded them to spare the hens, and during 
the last three seasons both shootings produced on an average from fifty to seventy 
brace of Blackcocks. I think that this speaks for itself. Finally, we must take into 
consideration the delicacy of the young birds. The Greyhen herself seldom succeeds 
in rearing more than five of her progeny, many falling victims to the hill-drains and 
the attacks of stoats, foxes, buzzards, peregrines, and hoodie-crows. Forest and pasture, 
like all other earthly things, are always in a constant state of change. Some grounds, 
especially open ones, alter slowly ; others, such as plantations, may do so in a few years, 
and with new conditions Blackgame migrate to more attractive habitats. However, 
nearly all these detrimental conditions can be obviated or mitigated if the shooting 
