90 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



We may therefore conclude that the species is attractive to the eye and 

 taste of the young chick. It was found plentifully in certain marshy spots 

 where the chicks were known to feed. 



Although the results have been tabulated in various ways, it has been 

 found difficult to trace any outstanding feature regarding the insect food 

 of Grouse chicks. With such a small number of birds it would be manifestly 

 unwise to work out averages and curves. It is sufficient for the present 

 purpose to show that the food of young Grouse is largely made up of insects, 

 that these insects present a great variety of species, and that the species 

 most commonly found in the crop is probably that which is most numerous 

 in the area where the chicks are accustomed to feed. But it is also evident 

 Insect food that the number of insects eaten shows a considerable falling off 

 after'third towards the third week of the chick's life. We should not expect 

 week. ^jjg chicks to show much discrimination in the catching of their 



prey, and as Diptera undoubtedly are the most numerous in individuals 

 of all the insects on the moors, it naturally follows that they head the list 

 in the table of crop contents. 



In the Table (p. 91) an attempt has been made to indicate, in somewhat 

 more graphic form, the results of the examination of the crop contents. 

 The crops are arranged, so far as possible, in order of age, beginning with the 

 youngest. The ages of the birds are estimated by the length of the keel 

 of the sternum or breast-bone. Relatively the ages are believed to be sub- 

 stantially correct, though individually there may be a discrepancy of three 

 or four days. 



The sign x in the Table indicates the presence of remains in the crop 

 belonging to the order of insects named at the top of the column. In the 

 third column the solid black o shows that no insect remains of any kind were 

 found. This Table is of special importance as showing the extent to which 

 the insect food falls off after the second week of life. This is also borne 

 out by the great drop in the number of orders of insects represented by 

 the crosses. 



The crops of young chicks in the first week or two have been found to 

 contain, in addition to insects, the following vegetable food-stuffs in 



Vegetable . ' . ' 6 6 



food of varying proportions : — 



chicks. 



Calluna shoots ; only the very fresh j^oung green shoots are eaten. 

 Calluna flowers, in full bloom, and flower-buds. 



