APPRAISAL OF THE VARIOUS SPECIES 



339 



been supplemented with respect to the great horned owl and fox by regularly gathering their 

 pellets and droppings on the study areas*. 



In compiHng the results of the stomach analyses only material from localities situated in 

 grouse territory has been used in order that the data may be as applicable as possible to the 

 problems of the Investigation. In the Appendix'^ is shown the seasonal distribution of these 

 specimens. The examinations are summarized in table 43 according to the major types of 

 food, the percentages representing the number of specimens in which the various food cate- 

 gories were found^. For purposes of the kind involved in this study the frequency of oc- 

 currence method best facilitates interpretation of relationships to other animal populations. 

 This follows the conclusion of Scott"^ with respect to fecal analysis. 



TABLE t:?. PROPORTION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOOD IN PREDATOR STOMACHS 



EXAMINED BY THE INVESTIGATION— 1930-1942 



The f 



(illowinp; 



comments on these data are considered under each species separately. 



Fox 



Most of the stomachs were those of red foxes although 20 grays were secured. Supple- 

 menting these a total of 4.269 droppings have been examined. Of these 3.0.54 have come 

 from Connecticut Hill and 719 from other areas in the southern part of the state, while 496 

 are from the Adirondacks. In the latter material only the red fox is involved, whereas in 

 the other both species are represented. In table 44 the analyses of these specimens is tabu- 

 lated in the same way as for stomachs. 



There is little to choose between the basic food habits of the two species. It is apparent 

 that rabbits and mice constitute their staple foods throughout the State at all seasons. In 

 the first group the varying hare is paramount in the northern part of the State, while south- 

 ward it gives way to the cottontail. Among the mice the field mouse is taken most frequently, 

 followed by the deer mouse. Lesser numbers of the red-backed mouse and other species have 



* The Btomacli analyses were made largely by tlie author altlioiigh a series of fox material was done by William J. Hamilton. Jr., 

 of Cornell University. Pellet and dropping examinations were made in part by the author and in part by John C. Jones, 

 working in collaboration with the Division of Food Habits Resrarcli of llie Federal Fisli antl \i'ildlifp Srrvire. Thomas Smyth 

 and Ralph Palmer also assisted in the latter. 



A See Appendix, p. 875. 



t In carh species a number of tlie stomachs received were empty. These were deducted in figuring percentages. 



