FOOD HABITS. 37 



said that the present investigation shows no appreciable injury to 

 cultivated fruit, but a marked liking for wild fruit. It may be 

 interesting to note, also, that the .bobwhite is not nearly so f rugiv- 

 orous as the ruffed grouse. 



LIST OF FRUITS EATEN. 



Although the percentage of wild fruits yearly consumed is compar- 

 atively small, the variety is great, as shown by the appended list, 

 which includes only those actually ascertained to have been eaten. A 

 few careful observers could easily double the number. 



Cabbage palmetto (Inodes palmetto). Smooth scarlet sumac (Rhus glabra). 



Saw palmetto (Serenoa serrulata). Holly (Ile.r opaca). 



Solomon's seal (Polygonatinn). Black alder (Uex verticiUata). 



(Jreenbrier (S in ilax sp.). Climbing bittersweet (Celastrus scan- 

 Wax myrtle (Uyrica cerlfera) . dens). 



Bayberry (Myrica caroVniennis). Frost grape (Vltis cordifolia). 



Mulberry {Morus riihra). Flowering dogwood (Gorniis ftorida). 



Sassafras {Sassafras sassafras). Sour gum (Xyssa sylrutiea). 



Thimbleberry (RuJ)us Occident aJ is). Wintergi'eeu (GavWieria procumbens) . 

 High bush blackberry (Rul)us nigra- Huckleberry (Gayliissacia sp.). 



baccus). Blueberry {Tacciniiini sp.). 



Dewberry (Biibus prociimbens) . Ground-cherrj' (Physalis pubescens) . 



Strawberry (Fragaria, sp.). Nightshade (Solanum nigrum). 



Rose (Rosa). Elder (Sanibuciis canadensis). 



Haw (Gruto'gMS sp.). Black haw {Viburnum prunifoliiim) . 



Apple {Mains mains). Honeysuckle ( Lo» (cera sp.). 



Cultivated cherry {I'runus sp.). Partridge berry {Mitchella repens). 



Wild cherry {Prunus serotina). SarsapariUa {Aralia). 



Poison ivy {Rhus radicans). Woodbine {Partlienocissus quinquefo- 

 Dwarf sumac {Rhus copaiiina). iia). 



Staghorn sumac {Rhus liirta). 



Leaves and Buds as Pood. 



The bobwhite does not approach the ruffed grouse in destructive- 

 ness to leaves, buds, and tender shoots, though occasionally it samples 

 them. It eats the leaves of sorrel sometimes, both yellow sorrel 

 (Oxalis stricta) and red sorrel {Rumex acetosella). It has been 

 known to take the leaves of cinquefoil {Potentilla) , and is extremely 

 fond of both red and white clover. Captive birds ate grass, lettuce, 

 and chickweed. 



Insects as Food. 



Notwithstanding statements to the contrary, published and unpub- 

 lished, the bobwhite eats insects in every month of the year. They 

 form 15.05 per cent of its entire food for the year. From June to 

 August, inclusive, when insects are most numerous, their proportion 

 in the food is 35.97 per cent. The variety of insect food is large. 



