MANAGEMENT OF GROUSE MOORS 
Sheep do not eat much ling, unless they are overcrowded, until the 
old grass has died down in winter, and as soon as the grass begins to die 
all sheep should be taken off the moor, which in most seasons would be 
towards the end of January, though it may be necessary any time after 
the end of November. Sheep do most harm in February, March, April 
and May, when the early shoots are growing, and are eagerly eaten by 
the sheep, the old rotten grass being distasteful to them. They should 
not be allowed back on the moor till the end of May, and as the young birds 
are then just hatched, the dogs need to be kept under strict control, 
or a whole brood may be quickly snapped up. Sheep can do a great deal 
of harm to the heather in snow time, and should then never be allowed 
on the moor. 
On properly managed estates the tenants are never allowed on the 
moor, but are obliged to leave their sheep under the care of a shepherd, 
paid £1 per week by them, but under the control of the estate bailiff. At 
shearing time, and at dipping time, there is a general gathering of the 
tenants to take away their sheep, when they have been brought down 
from the moor by the shepherd. The latter has to find his own dog, but 
he is allowed to act as a driver on shooting days, and thus supplement his 
weekly wages. 
At the end of October every ewe should be cleared off the moor, and 
put with the tups in the enclosures, only “ hoggs ” being then allowed 
on the moor, lambs being thus designated after dipping time, till after 
the first shearing. By this method the grouse are not being daily harried 
by the shepherd driving the ewes up to the tups, which effectually clears 
the grouse away for the time being, especially when every tenant is allowed 
to go on the moor whenever he wills. 
Grouse do a great deal of courting about the beginning of November, 
and when the moor is quiet, may be constantly seen in pairs pursuing 
each other with rapid flight, the cock only a yard, or less, behind the hen, 
and wheeling and twisting in every direction, the two never varying their 
distance, and being apparently swayed by the same impulse, while the 
whole time the hen is uttering a not unmusical low note. It is probable 
that at the same time choice is being made of a locality for the future 
nest, though the actual site may not be selected until the spring. 
Young grouse, after their plumage is complete, may be distinguished 
from old ones by examining the second flight -feather, which in a bird 
of the year is very narrow, ending in an acute angle ; every additional year 
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