RUFFED GROUSE—PARTRIDGE 157 
titude of harmful insects and so would have done good 
service to the farmer. 
Although grain has not been found in the crops of 
any of these grouse, there is no doubt that it is eaten 
when obtainable. The birds are often seen scratching 
in the roads, presumably for oats dropped by the horses, 
and I have vivid recollection of a partridge which one 
winter could be started two or three times a day at the 
head of a small pond where corn had been scattered 
along the edge of the water to attract the black ducks. 
This grouse frequented the place all through the winter 
to feed on the scattered corn. 
In autumn, winter or spring it resorts to orchards to 
feed on the buds of the trees, but it probably does no 
harm in this way. Buds and the leaves of poplar, 
birch, ironwood and willow form a large portion of 
the food of the grouse. It is said that the buds of the 
black birch are sometimes eaten so largely that they 
impart a taste to the bird’s flesh. In Alaska, E. W. 
Nelson found the grouse feeding on spruce buds and 
declared that the flesh had become bitter from this diet. 
There was long a belief that the flesh of the ruffed 
grouse was sometimes poisonous because it ate the buds 
of the laurel. The statement was made by Alexander 
Wilson, and cases are quoted by Mr. Judd to show 
that there is a foundation for the belief. On the other 
hand, grouse which had fed on laurel have been eaten 
without any resulting harm. It is quite possible that 
where injury has resulted, it came from leaving the 
bird undrawn for a long time after death, when the 
