GROUSE DISEASE:

ITS CAUSES AND REMEDIES.

BY

DUNCAN GEORGE FORBES MACDONALD,

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

AUTHOR OF

" "6
WHAT THE FARMERS MAY DO WITH THE LAND, ESTATE MANAGEMENT,"
HINTS ON FARMING,' CATTLE, SHEEP, AND DEER,"

66

66 THE HIGHLAND CROFTERS,

ETC., ETC.

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.

LONDON:

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

The moors! the moors! the joyous moors
When autumn displays her golden stores-
When the morning's breath
Blows across the heath,

On the mountain side,

'Tis gladness to ride

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

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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