GROUSE DISEASE:

ITS CAUSES AND REMEDIES.

BY

DUNCAN GEORGE FORBES MACDONALD,

C.E., LL.D., J.P., F.R.G.S.,

66

AUTHOR OF

66

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WHAT THE FARMERS MAY DO WITH THE LAND," "ESTATE MANAGEMENT,"
HINTS ON FARMING," CATTLE, SHEEP, AND DEER,'
"THE HIGHLAND CROFTERS," ETC., ETC.

WITH SIX FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Third Edition.

LONDON:

W. H. ALLEN & CO., 13 WATERLOO PLACE,

PALL MALL, S.W.

PUBLISHERS TO THE INDIA OFFICE.

1883.

(All rights reserved.)

LONDON:

PRINTED BY W. H. ALLEN & co., 13 WATERLOO PLACE.

S.W.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

K-SF995

ма

1883

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National love of Sport.-Grouse Ranges.-Prospects of Sport.

-Grouse Shooting.-Shooting in Winter.-Great Rise in

Shooting Rents.-Extraordinary demand for Moors.-Inte-

resting Statistics.-Marvellous Selling-Value of Highland

Estates.-Cost of Grouse to the Sportsman.-Rents of

Moors.-Dishonourable Practices in letting Shootings.-

Sport in the Olden Time.-Battue Shooting.-Views of

Professor Blackie.-Wonderful Migration to the Highlands.

-Sport the instinctive Exercise of a noble Attribute of

Man.-The Shooting Lodge

CHAPTER II.

1

The Red Grouse.-Its Food.--Condition of Moors.-Evil

Results of Old Heather.-One cause of Grouse Disease.-

Evidence on Heather-Burning given before the Select

Committee of the House of Commons.-Extraordinary

Prejudices of Gamekeepers.-Mr. Houstoun on Heather-

Burning in Caithness and Ross.-Mismanaged Moors.-

Drainage of Moorlands.-Grouse improved by new Strains

of Blood.-Evils of In-and-in Breeding. - Transfer of

Grouse from Place to Place.-Experience of the Prince

of Wales. Exchanging Eggs of Grouse. - Destruction

of Grouse. A growing Evil. Fencing Moors. - Best

Kind of Fence. Effects of Cold and Wet Seasons on

Grouse

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