Food ajid Water 133 



l^eaver, and snowshoe hare are known to eat them. There is no indi- 

 cation, however, that this heavy competition adversely a£Fects the 

 grouse. 



Chemical composition (Hosley, 19-38, average figures for black- 

 berry fruit) : water— 86.3 per cent; protein— 1.3 per cent; fat— 1.0 per 

 cent; nitrogen-free extract— 10.9 per cent; fiber— 2.5 per cent; ash— 

 0.5 per cent. (Hoslev, 1938, dry leaves of R. hispidus): water— 7.8 

 per cent; protein— 9.8 per cent; fat— 4.1 per cent; nitrogen-free ex- 

 tract— 60.8 per cent; fiber— 13.7 per cent; ash— 3.9 per cent. 



The high water content of the fniit of Rubus may explain its great 

 importance as a summer food. During the hot summer montlis 

 grouse obtain much of their water requirement through foods of 

 this type. 



Sheep Sorrel {Rtimex acetosella) 



Seasonal importance: From late summer or early fall imtil mid- 

 spring, with greatest use probably in late fall and early winter. 



Parts used: Leaves. 



Geographical importance: Sheep soitcI is eaten by grouse through- 

 out the Northeast but assumes its greatest importance in the south- 

 em portion, from Pennsylvania to Virginia. Here it ranks as one of 

 the most important fall and winter foods whereas farther north it is 

 used somewhat less, particularly in winter when snow limits its 

 availability. It is taken to some extent by grouse chicks in late sum- 

 mer. Darrow found it to rate tenth among chick food plants in the 

 Catskill portion of New York. 



Sheep sorrel (or field sorrel) is a common weed (see Plate 20D) 

 that has been naturalized from Europe. It is a perennial herb which 

 spreads hv rootstocks. The leaves have a sour taste. It is a low plant, 

 from five to fifteen inches high, found along field borders in sparse 

 cover, in old fields, on roadsides, and in poor soils. 



Greenbriars (Smilax spp.) 



Species utilized: Most of the records give the identification of 

 foods derived from this group only to genus. Products of three spe- 

 cies have been positively identified in grouse stomach records but 

 it is highly probable tliat those of other Smilax also are used. Cat 



