200 



FOOD HABITS AND REQUIREMENTS 



these leaves are not much taken in the wild though one bird collected from Jefferson County 

 in late October had fed exclusively upon them. They stay green in the face of fall frosts and 

 this may attract grouse to the trees though they feed largely on the buds and decaying fruit. 

 That heavy pruning of apple buds may result is indicated by the meal of a Catskill bird 

 which had eaten 566 of them in November. 



In the late summer and fall, the birds have a tendency to gorge themselves on thornapple 

 (Crataegus) fruits. From the crop of one full fed grouse, collected October 16. near Ithaca 

 (N.Y.), were extracted 125 of these bulky fruits and seeds along with 11 other kinds of 

 food. In fact, throughout the State more fall birds were found to have fed exclusively on 

 redhaws than on anv other item. Buds of thornapples, however, do not seem to be much 

 relished and only three birds had eaten the leaves. 



Shadbush ( Amelanchier ) is also much patronized both for its early fruits and for buds. 

 One winter-bound bird in the Adirondacks gathered 846 of the latter and another in the Cat- 

 skills picked more than 1,300. 



One of the largest crops examined was filled with almost half a pint of leaves of the 

 barren strawberry (Waldsteinia) ; this bird was collected on December 2. 



Though avens (Geum) seeds, also of the rose group, were not taken in sufficient quantities 

 to rank among the more common summer and fall foods, one bird taken October 22 in 

 Albany County made most of its meal of them, taking more than 2.000. 



Occasionally some species with apparently desirable fruits are neglected. This seems to be 

 the case with the chokeberries (Aronia). the buds of which were eaten by only 12 of the 

 grouse examined, seeds and fruits by three adults and one chick: and leaves by one adult. 

 With one exrejjtion, all of these were represented by small amounts. 



The Birch Fainily. Second in importance, though little patronized in summer, is the birch 

 family (Betulaceae). Chief among the group are the birches (Betula) themselves, among 

 which the birds are so frequently found as to give rise to the appelation of birch partridge. 

 The seeds, though common travelers over the March snow, are seldom touched, but both catkins 

 and buds are well liked. These are taken from all species; those of yellow birch ( B. Ititea). 









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