The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-02 00:00:00

THE MOORS AND FORESTS.

Many of our contemporaries are predicting
already what are the shooting prospects of the
season on the moors. But in point of fact this is
of all time of the year, the least likely to furnish
any statement on the subject, at least, as re-
gards young birds, which for the most part are
not yet out of the shell. A few young cheepers
have been seen on the low grounds here and
there, but, as a general rule, hatching does not
take place till the first week in July. Hitherto
the weather has been most favourable, and
with three weeks of such weather as we have
had for the last month, there can be little doubt that
grouse will be as plentiful as ever they were known
to be in the North of Scotland. Last year the con-
tinuous rains and rough weather throughout Aug ust
and part of September prevented sportsmen from
making large bags, and in consequence a more than
ordinary breeding stock was left on nearly all the
moors north of the Spey. This, together with a
winter of unusual mildness, left the old grouse
more numerous and stronger than for many years
past. Unfortunately in those districts where
disease prevailed this time last year it has reap-
peared with undiminished virulence, and is coming
lower down the hills. It appears to be worst on
the east side of the Spey, and except that there is. a
suspicion of tapeworm on the high moors at Caw-
dor, we have heard of no case of disease north of the
Findhorn. From Carr Bridge a correspondent
writes that on the extensive moors of Lord Scars-
dale the birds are dying fast. In the channels
of burns the dead grouse can bo taken up in bas-
ketfuls. The prospects are as yet anything but good,
but we hope that matters may yet mend, and that
Lord Scarsdale and party may number their braces
by scores on the 12th of August. We iegret to hear
from the same' quarter, that Mr. Wynne Williams
has been suffering in health, and he is not likely to
return to his pleasant quarters at Tulchen Lodge.
Mr. Bass, M.P., has been making inquiry regarding
the Tulchen moors. The Scotsman reports from the
district of Comrie that there has not been such an
abundant stock of grouse and blackcock, besides
other game, breeding for the last ten years. The
nests are well filled with eggs, and the birds began
to set two weeks earlier than last year. The coveys
of partridges are abundant in all directions, and
there never were better prospects of good part-
ridge-shooting than this year. On Benvoirlich and.
other high mountains the ptarmigan are plentiful,
and have withstood the winter well, and on all the
low grounds pheasants, wild ducks, roe, hare, &c.,
are abundant, and sportsmen may calculate on
good sport. Deer-stalkers may look for-
ward to a season in which red-deer will be in.
good condition sooner than usual, and stags crowned
with antlers of greater bulk and length than the
average. There is hardly a forest in the north
wherein deer have been deprived of more than a
single day's food during the winter, and the growth
of their favourite herbage is a long way in advance
of the usual run of seasons. Already the heads are
well grown, and by the middle of August we should
not wonder to hear of their being clear of velvet.--
Inverness Courier.

COUNTRY MA EEL AS.

NV

YORK-MAY 31.

We had a fair supply of wheat on offer to-day, and
the demand ruled inactive ; late prices declined about la

Wr qr.-
heat, red Ms to 57s Oats.... 22s to 269
White do .60s to 648 Beans 40s to 4bs
Barley .30s to 32s Peas ....—s to —s
Malt, G6s to 68s per qr. ; rye, 34s per qr ; flour, 465,
to 42s per sack.

NOTTINGHAM—MAY 31.
Tho wheat plant is looking most promising in this locality
—White wheat to-day, from 60s to 63s • red, 42s to 60s.
Barley—malting, 37s to 42s ; grinding, '3os to 325. Oats
active, at 30s to 355, old ; 23s to 27s new. Beans were sold
at 40s to 50s per qr, Flour, 40s to 50s.