202 



FOOD HABITS A\D REQIIREMENTS 



opulus), 42 fruits of arrowwood (f'irburnum dentatum) and ten other items, including 25 

 beechnuts. 



TABLK 26. QUANTITIES OF BEECHNUTS CONSUMED BY 1,093 ADUl.T GROUSE IN 



NEW YORK— 1931-1941 



In years of beech mast scarcity grouse of course turn to other foods. The long spiked 

 beech buds, too. are occasionally eaten, though seldom in quantities and then probably in- 

 cidental to feeding on the nuts, for they are usually more common in early spring and fall 

 crops. One bird collected in October in the Catskills. however, contained 601 of these stick- 

 like buds. Beech leaves also are taken occasionally. 



Now that the chestnut has all but vanished, the other great group of mast producers upon 

 which wildlife must depend is the oaks (Quercus). Not such a factor in grouse economy in 

 the Northeast as are beechnuts, acorns may nevertheless be taken in sizeable quantities. One 

 bird killed October 15 had eaten ten of these large nuts. Acorns from the white oak group, 

 particularly those from the white oak iQ. alba) and the bur oak fQ. macrocarpa) seem to 

 be preferred to those of the black oaks*, though the bitter acorns of the black oak (Q. velu- 

 tina), as well as of the scarlet (Q. coccina). pin iQ. palustris) and particularly the scrub, 

 (Q. ilicijoUa) oaks are taken in increasing amounts towards the southern part of the grouse 

 range."' "'. The red oak (Q. horealis) acorn is so large that it is seldom swallowed whole. 

 The Investigation has two records of the meat minus the shell being eaten. 



Grouse apparently enjoy eating tough leaves occasionally such as those of oak for three 

 of the birds examined had included these in their diet. One collected July 21 made almost 

 its entire meal on the leaves of the bur oak (Q. macrocarpa). even though insects and rasp- 

 berries were abundant. 



One wonders how the grouse manage to break off the stubby, tight-twigged oak buds, but 

 they were found sparingly in the crops of eight birds from ,'\pril 3 to June 5. 



The Heath Family. Wherever acid soils abound within the grouse range, plants of the 

 heath family (Ericaceae) play an important part iti tin- life of the grouse. In the Northeast, 

 begimiiiig in July, blueberries (J'acciiiium ) and later huckleberries fCayltissacia) are much 

 relished b\ old and young alike. Judd found .'^IM) ln-rries of / . penrisylvanicum in the crop 

 of a September bird from Chateaugay, N. Y. Farther south they continue to be sought even 

 in late fall as a Rlacksburg. Va.. bird killed D.-ceinber 2. had made the bulk of its last meal 

 of 295 fruits and an additional 99 .seeds of blui'licrrirs. FrequentK large numbers of the 

 small compact buds are taken, particular!) in u inter, for blueberries are widely distributed 

 in clearings and as an understory in the more open woodlands. Buds, leaves or fruits of 



* Acrording to Wanio and Forbr*^* llic [irr 

 urnib oak 6.S5. and while oak 2.91. 



of tannin in llif (ri-.li niilA from 



i-r.il i«|ir.'if!i arc a» follows: ri*d oak 6.01. 



