THE TWELFTH.
The red grouse is our one unique bird. It belongs to Britain and to no other country ; and marvellously fits its environment. Perhaps that is one reason why it affects our social organization ! It is also a reason for a great searching of heart at the moment among British sportsmen. The value of grouse-shooting for propaganda purposes has been suddenly realized by the bigger shipping companies, which have made themselves into agents for letting moors, with the result that grouse-shooting becomes a dearer and dearer sport. The same may be said of trout and salmon fishing, but in this regard Britain is excelled by many other countries, especially North America ; and competition for our rivers and lochs is largely among home sportsmen. The moors, on the other hand, are being absorbed more and more, under encouragement by the shipping companies, by sportsmen from America, to whom Scotland is becoming a social attraction. * * *
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