Food and Water 125 



is probable that ferns are of greatest use at this season. In the New 

 York state-wide average (N.Y.S. Cons. Dept. Ann. Rep. 1937) ferns 

 appear in the first ten only in the spring. Their importance in winter 

 is substantiated by abundant data. The relative inaccessibility of 

 the plants at this season in the northern states adds even greater 

 weight to the evidence of their importance. In autumn ferns are 

 taken in significant amount but in lesser quantity than from De- 

 cember to May. 



Parts used: Fronds. 



Geogiaphical importance: The ferns are an important food 

 throughout the Northeast. There is evidence that shield ferns 

 (Thelypteris) (see Plate 20A) are of greatest value in the northern 

 range, and that Christmas fern (Polystichum) is more important in 

 Virginia, and rattlesnake fern (Botrychium) in Ohio. This differ- 

 entiation is probably the result of local variation in abundance. 



Christmas fern is found in the ground cover of dry woodlands 

 while the shield ferns are adapted to the floor of damp woods. Both 

 are most prevalent on the banks of ravines. 



Popples, or Poplar {Populus spp.) 



Species utilized: Quaking aspen (P. tremuloides), large-toothed 

 aspen (P. grandidentata) , and balsam poplar (P. balsamifera) are 

 eaten, the first two as staple foods, the third usually incidentally. 



Seasonal importance: An important food all year round, used 

 most intensively in the spring (buds and catkins). The buds are 

 also one of the most important foods all through the winter. During 

 the spring and summer the catkins and leaves are eaten by adult 

 grouse, while in the fall the birds gradually take to the buds again. 



Parts used: Leaf buds, flower buds, catkins, and leaves, the buds 

 being by far the most important ( see Plate 20C ) . 



Geographical importance: From Pennsylvania and Ohio north- 

 ward for P. tremuloides and P. grandidentata. The range of P. bal- 

 samifera restricts its use to New England, northern New York, and 

 northward. 



The popples are short-lived, small-to-medium-sized trees that es- 

 tablish themselves quickly on old fields and bums when seeding 

 conditions are right. In climax or subclimax stands they are re- 

 stricted largely to the forest edges. 



