136 The Riiffed Grouse 



Chemical analysis (Hosley, 1938) for fresh fruit: water— 83.4 per 

 cent; protein— 0.6 per cent; fat— 0.6 per cent; nitrogen-free extract 

 —13.9 per cent; fiber— 1.2 per cent; ash— 0.3 per cent; calories per 

 pound— 310. 



Viburnums (Viburnum spp.) 



Species utihzed: mapleleaf viburnum (V. acerifoliuni) (see Plate 

 23A); withered (V. cassinoides); nannyberry (V. lentago) (see 

 Plate 27A); blackhaw (V. prunifolium) (see Plate 27C); and high- 

 bush cranberry (V. trilobum) (see Plate 25B) are the species used 

 most generally and in greatest quantity. Among these, naimyberry, 

 highbush cranberry, and withered appear to be most important in 

 New England, mapleleaf viburnum, nannyberry, and withered in 

 New York, and blackhaw and mapleleaf viburnum to the south. 

 Other viburnums used to a lesser degree are: hobblebush (V. alni- 

 folium) (see Plate 27B); arrowwood (V. dentatum) (see Plate 

 27D); wayfaring tree (V. lantana) (usually cultivated); squash- 

 berry (V. paucifiorum) ; and hairy naimyberry (V. pubescens) . 



Seasonal importance: Fall and winter, diminishing in volume of 

 use as winter passes. 



Parts used: Fruit. 



Geographical importance: Some species of viburnums are of sig- 

 nificance in the fall diet of tlie grouse throughout the Northeast, 

 with the possible exceptions of Vermont and Rhode Island. How- 

 ever, if more records from these states were available, it is reason- 

 ably sure that they would show that at least a small part of the 

 grouse food is derived from plants of this genus. The highest use 

 intensities are recorded from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Con- 

 necticut, New York, and Virginia. 



It is interesting to note a discrepancy in the geographical use of 

 a food species in connection with highbush cranberry. This species 

 is readily patronized by grouse in New England and Pennsylvania, 

 and yet we have observed that it is almost completely avoided in 

 New York. No explanation for this variation in selection is apparent. 



The viburnums are medium-to-tall shrubs found in the woodland 

 understory, along woods edges, and in fence rows. They usually 

 grow in well-drained, fairly fertile soils, although nannyberry and 



