Many long leagues separate the moor-keeper of the North from the
keeper of South-country preserves; their eyes look out upon different
worlds; the two men are as different in type, in ideas, and in
methods as the North is different to the South, the open, rolling
moor to the jungle-like covert. There are certain matters on which
they agree--as in their mutual hatred of foxes; the moor-keeper, when
the season is out, has no hesitation in killing all foxes and vermin
within his power. He has an advantage over his brother in some things;
as in nesting-sites. The heather affords an unlimited number of
well-concealed places for grouse nests, whereas in Hampshire or Sussex
a nesting hedgerow after the heart of pheasant or partridge is likely
to be overcrowded, and to attract every sort of egg-thief. Again, he
has an advantage in his natural and abundant food-supplies; though much
of his success in raising a stock of healthy birds will depend on his
judgment in burning old heather, and insuring a plentiful growth of
young shoots. When heather is late in starting to grow, and birds are
forced to feed on old, dry shoots, digestive troubles may prove fatal
to many.
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