CHAPTER III 



THE FOOD OF THE RED GEOUSE 



PART I. OBSERVATIONS ON. THE FOOD OF GROUSE, BASED ON AN 

 EXAMINATION OF CROP CONTENTS. 



DURING the period of the Inquiry the contents of three hundred 

 and ninty-nine specimens of loaded crops have been examined 

 by the Committee with the express view of ascertaining the 

 various foods eaten by Grouse ; the percentage of compositions 

 have been tabulated, as well as the total weight of food in the 

 crops at the various hours of the day, and by this means the 

 Committee have come to several unexpected conclusions. 

 In addition to those tabulated some eleven hundred other 

 crops were examined, these were obtained chiefly from diseased 

 birds in April and May, and from shot birds in August and 

 September. The results correspond closely to those obtained 

 from the tabulated specimens. 



The three hundred and ninety-nine specimens of tabulated 

 crop contents are well distributed as to locality and as to date. 

 It is natural that by far the greater number should have been 

 supplied during August and September ; but the other months 

 are fully represented, and no fewer than thirty-three ^counties 

 have contributed specimens. 



Table I. (p. 80) is drawn up to show the average weight of Time of 

 the crop contents of birds killed at different hours of the day, 

 from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. 



In the last right-hand column of Table I. will be found a 

 general average for the twelve months, and it will be seen from 

 the figures given that Grouse feed from morning until night, 



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