NO T . POISONO US. 1 67 



late in autumn it feeds upon the berries of the 

 American laurel, a shrub which is found in profuse 

 abundance on the slopes and spurs of the picturesque 

 Alleghany Mountains. This has been known to 

 make the flesh of the ruffed grouse somewhat 

 poisonous ; but as this shrub is unknown, or nearly 

 so, in England and Scotland, such an objection 

 could never be raised against them here. 



For my own part, I think that the danger said to 

 arise from eating their flesh is greatly exaggerated, as, 

 although I have supped and breakfasted upon them 

 day after day in almost all their haunts, I never 

 suffered evil result from so doing. 



