108 66 brace on the 14th; and at Finzean, Aberdeenshire, one hundred and fifty brace were bagged by four guns on the 12th. Sir Joseph Pease and party (four guns) killed at Corndarvon one hundred and eighty-one brace, one hundred and fifteen and a half brace, and one hundred and eleven brace; whilst in the Forest of Birse four guns bagged one hundred and eighty-one and a half brace, one hundred and twenty-four brace, and one hundred and two brace. "Land and Water" reports on 19th August:"The grouse season of 1882 has so far proved considerably above an average year. Although no sensational bags have been made, it is pretty certain that there is a large stock of grouse, both in Scotland as well as on the majority of English moors. Bags of over two hundred brace have been rare, but those of one hundred brace are comparatively common. The disease has unquestionably left its mark in more than one district, and strangely enough its ravages have been most marked in the opposite extremes of Scotland, Caithness, and Wigtownshire, and in parts of Inverness-shire. It has, however, been found not to be general in either county, but some moors in each have suffered severely. The lower moors of Inverness-shire have escaped, but some of the higher tracts of this grousing county seem to have suffered severely. If possible the weather on the "Twelfth " was too fine, the sun being so bright and the heat so intense it LAST YEAR'S GROUSE SEASON. 109 on the open moors Scent seemed fairly was dangerous to venture out during the middle of the day. good, but a few casts over rough heather under a burning sun quickly settled the dogs in the halfprepared condition they usually are at the commencement of the season. During the week the weather has at times been much cooler, and good bags have been made over dogs. Many of our correspondents write in the most cheerful strains of the sport they have already obtained and still hope to enjoy. On the Lews and the Northern Islands, according to the 'Scotsman,' from whom we have been able to cull some returns to add to the mass of notes cur correspondents have so kindly furnished us with, the season is scarcely yet in full swing, as the birds are there generally a week or so later than on the mainland. Regarding Ireland, a correspondent at Cork writes that in Kerry the mountains are literally alive with grouse, and no one to shoot them. This speaks volumes for the present unhappy condition of the country. He grimly asks if it is that grouse is too small' a game a game for shooting in Ireland at the present day?" The reports that have appeared in the principal Scotch newspapers show that sport has been good throughout the Highlands during the month of August, and well on into September. There were exceptions, of course, as there are every year; but grouse were exceedingly abundant, as the large supply at the various 110 PRICES OF GROUSE. markets proved. We are informed that up to the 24th of August there was quite a "glut" in Leadenhall market; that the highest figure was three shillings and sixpence; but that the larger proportion of the birds consigned brought only half a crown each. The following prices are from the returns made by a highly-respectable dealer, for a consignment that reached London on the 14th of August:-" Thirty-six at three shillings and sixpence; eighty-four at three shillings; twenty-four at two shillings and ninepence; one hundred and twenty at two shillings and sixpence; one hundred at two shillings and threepence; eight at one shilling and sixpence: average two shillings and eightpence per single bird." Another ticket, dated on the 22nd of August, gives the following prices: "forty-four at two shillings and sixpence; twelve at two shillings; seventy-two at one shilling and ninepence; twenty-three at one shilling and sixpence; or an average of about one shilling and elevenpence for each bird. As the bulk of the birds which will be shot this year have now been put on the markets, prices will improve somewhat, but as fewer will be shot the money returns will be comparatively small for the sportsmen." In 1881 prices were considerably higher. Like everything else, the rate is regulated by supply and demand. We have just met a gentleman who spent two months of the shooting season in the Highlands, and he fully confirms our views. He said he never saw 66 111 so many sportsmen in the north before, so we presume they appreciate the following lines: AWAY TO THE GROUSE. 'Tis pleasant to think of the chance of fair weather, Let others talk on in the weary Committee, Unworthy the labour of Members of nous; Let mad "Bulls " and "Bears" play with Stocks in the We 're off to the Grouse ! Let Merchants in Lanes, be they called Mark or Mincing, The old dog draws on to where birds must be lying, Then home in the twilight as clouds gather o'er us, Then dinner! Such prospects make all join in Chorus— CHAPTER V. Diseased Nature oftentimes breaks forth It is now eighty years since the alarm of grouse disease was sounded in this country. Naturally, its appearance gave rise to much speculation, and many rival theories have from time to time been advanced and published, in the Press and in periodicals, as to its origin. Unfortunately, most of these contributions are from scientists, not from sportsmen, naturalists, and keepers. Hence they are not of much practical value, adding little but perplexity to the obscurity of the subject. Amongst naturalists, sportsmen, and keepers, great difference of opinion prevails; the want of positive knowledge, affording in this, as in so many other cases, a wild field for the pranks of pretence and ignorance. But it is, nevertheless, true that men of high attainments differ widely as to the primary cause of the malady. Not a few assert that it has |