Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-27
GROUSE IN SCOTLAND
Fine Weather Conditions-Seen on Some
1Eoors az Early as the Twenty
First Of May.
From, the Glasgow Herald.


For few days past keepers and others
have been making an Inspection Of their
grouse grounds with the view OF report
ing prospects, to proprietors or iessees.
In some cases 1t Is OF course too early to
give ap exact forecast OF what the state of
the grouse crop win be on August IL. but
as a rule. after making every allowance
for the usual losses between row and the
opening day on the moors. the experienced
keeper can at the present date cast up
pretty accurately the numbers likely to give
sport to the gunners on the Twelfth" pro-
vided that In the interval there are no
specially heavy bursts of rain on the one
hand or unduly prolonged spells OF drought
on the other.
There number of moprs in Scot
land on which the first young grouse this
year were seen early az May 81. so
that In these cases the birds are now fairly
strong, giving an earnest OF what form
and feather they may be expected to show
by the middle of August. There are other
cases-the greater number-where the first
hatchings did not make their appearance
till mid-June. bus even in these cases the
probable numbers later on, Ia fairly ia
vorable circumstances. can be gagged with
tolerabie accuracy.
Health of the Grouse.
At the close of last season December 100
the stocks of grouse in Scotland were more
numerous and healthy than for several
years past. They. had rather severe condi-
lions to contend with during last autumn.
which was unusually wet. but they did
fairly well during December and the first
half of January-a good start that told in
their favor for the severer conditions of
February and March. The result was. as
the majority of keepers report. that the
grouse began the breeding season In better
trim than for several seasons past, and
their good health then has followed them
during the months since.
Feeding this year has been favorable to
the development Of plump flesh and glossy
feather-the surest characteristics OF
healthy grouse This has been due to the
ed last year, and to the prompt advan-
tage which the heather burners took of the
very favorable weather for the purpose
this year. The young shoots or heather have
thus been plentiful than in recent
years, and the grouse have enjoyed greater
stretches than hitherto of this best form
of nutriment.
Drainage again has been given more at
tention for year or two back, and natur-
ally this has also told to the good upon
the general health of the birds. The gem
orally healthy state of the grouse evil
dent from the numbers of well-filled nests
to be seen on every moor and were il not
for an unfortunate storm of rain in mid
May all over Scotland. and again the very
rainy week from May 20 to 81. the present
year should have been a record for grouse.
Perthshire.
The prospects throughout Perthshire gen.
orally are reported as on the whole good.
though the majority of keepers Indicate
that the broods are from a week to a fort
night later than the average time. Dis
ease, happily. appears to be absent from
the county this year, and at the present
date the young birds promise exceedingly
well. Their numbers are not quite up to
last years figures for June. but the birds
themselves are found to be in splendid
trim, with the weather still continuing in
every way favorable.
A Struan correspondent reports that the
long-continued wet weather of this spring
kept the birds back and interfered with
nesting. but for all that the survivors in
both the upper and lower reaches of moors
are now doing well. and appear to exist
in fair average numbers going about in
that lively fashion which betokens strong
and healthy birds.
Forfar and Kincardine.
Though fully fortnight later than their
usual time, the grouse In Forfar and Kin
caroline are reported to be doing prom
isingly. In the Kirriemuir district on the
Airlie. Baldovie. Tarrabuckle, Logic, Kin
nordy. Glenprosen and Clova moors, all the
keepers report a favorable outlook for Au-
gust AHSy one anu Hi Stipulate for
tolerably dry and warm July as indispensa-
BILE If a good show of birds is to be looked
for on the Twelfth. The weather. of the
nesting weeks was so bad that practically
every ill-conditioned bird succumbed before
May was out and after so severe hardships
during the past months of the year IL is
not expected that the old birds will be able
to weather out spell of further rainy con-
ditions during July.
Moray and Marin.
Reports from Morayshire indicate good
average prospects among the grouse, the
birds being almost numerous as last
year, generally healthy, and not quite so
late as in Aberdeenshire and Perthshire
with fewer second hatchings. The AItyre
moers this year carry good stocks of birds,
young broods ranging from six to eight
The Advie and Elchies moors, always good
grouse grounds. are again well stocked and
give promise of good sport this year
Reports from Brodie Gordon Castle
Hopeman, Dunphail Wester Elchies and
Tulchan all indicate good prospects, not
wfthstanding the unfavorabe spring and
early summer, nests having been well filed
eggs having Matched out well. with the
young birds now doing well In the favor
able spell of weather which they have been
fortunate to experience.
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