190 



FOOD HABITS AND REQUIREMENTS 



as eight other items in smaller amounts. Together, this crop's contents would constitute a 

 good-sized handful. It is not unusual Im Imd l.irds stuffing themselves on relished foods at 

 any season of the year save summer. Leaves are fa\orites during spring, fruits in early fall 

 and buds and catkins in winter. 



It was at first surprising, but on second thought logical, to find no cro])s containing more 

 than 19 cc. of food in summer. The diet then is mainly insects, juicy berries and tender 



THE AMOUNT AND VARIETY OF FOOD FOUND IN THE CROP OF A GROUSE IS OFTEN SURl'RISINO 

 PICTURED IS THE CONTENTS OF ONE WHICH CONTAINED: 



/. ]HH buds, hop-hornbeam 



4. 143 buds, hawthorne 



7. one hud, scarlet oak 



10. 223 fruits, staphorn siiiikii h 



I'.i. 37 fruits, seeds, bittersweet 



I(>. leaves, speedwell 



leaves which digest rapidly. In tin' midst of pltnt\. it is also possible that the birds may feed 

 more fn-ipicnlK and lake less at a time. 



In coiilrast to ihc crop, the giz/.ard holds a nuirh smaller amount of food. The largest ob- 

 served to date was thai of a winter bird from the ('.atskiil>. ll coiilaiiicd 20 cc. 



