144 The Ruffed Grouse 



tenths per cent of the summer food of the young in the Adirondacks 

 of New York, three per cent in the Catskills, and two and six-tenths 

 per cent in the rest of the state. He also hsts it as fifth in importance 

 among the summer foods of the adult birds in the Adirondacks. 



Rhododendrons ( Rhododendron ) : The leaves and buds of both 

 the evergreen and deciduous types of this genus are taken in fall 

 and winter. Such material composed one and five-tenths per cent of 

 the fall-and-winter food in EJiode Island (Hosley), and smaller 

 quantities from New Hampshire to Virginia, mainly near the coast 

 except in the south. 



Willows ( Salix ) : The buds and leaves are eaten in fall and winter 

 throughout the region. In Maine they composed one and four- 

 tenths per cent of the fall and winter food (Hosley, 1938), while 

 the Bi-1297 summary for the Northeast records willow as contrib- 

 uting more than one per cent of the winter food. Elsewhere it has 

 supplied food in smaller amounts. 



Elders (Sambucus) (see Plate 30C): The fruits of both north- 

 eastern species are utilized as summer-and-fall food. Darrow found 

 them to compose two and one-tenth per cent of the summer food of 

 yomig grouse in the Adirondacks of New York. Other records in New 

 England and in general northeast summaries are of very small quan- 

 tities, mainly because information on simimer foods and on the diet 

 of young birds is so scant. 



False Solomon's seal ( Smilacina ) : The fruit is taken as a f all-and- 

 early-winter food, mainly in the northern part of the region. Smyth 

 recorded that it amounted to two and two-tenths per cent of the 

 winter food in his northeastern records and MacGregor as sixth 

 (two and two-tenths per cent) among October foods in New Hamp- 

 shire. 



Bitter nightshade ( Solanum dulcamara ) : Both fruits and leaves 

 are used in fall and winter. Smyth fomid them to compose one and 

 four-tenths per cent of October food in the Northeast, probably 

 mostly in the north, as other records are from New York and New 

 England. 



Mountain ash (Sorbus) (see Plate SOD): Fruit and buds are 

 taken of both the native and introduced species during fall and win- 

 ter. They compose one and one-tenth per cent of fall and winter food 

 in New Hampshire ( Hosley ) and are recorded in smaller quantities 

 from New York and other parts of New England. 



