50 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



FOOD. 



By Nuttall we are advised that their food consists commonly in the 

 spring and fall, of the buds of trees, the catkins of the hazel and 

 alder, even fern buds, acorns and seeds of various kinds. * * * 

 At times I have seen the crop almost entirely filled with the buds of 

 the apple tree, each connected with a portion of the twig, the wood 

 of which appears to remain a good while undigested ; cinquefoil and 

 strawberry leaves, buds of the Azaleas, and of the broad-leaved Ka- 

 lonia, with the favorite Partridge berries, ivy berries ( Cissus heder- 

 acea) and gravel pebbles are also some of the many articles which 

 form the winter fare. In summer, they seem often to prefer berries 

 of various kinds, particularly dewberries, strawberries, grapes and 

 whortleberries. 



Wilson writes : " They are exceedingly fond of the seeds of grapes; 

 occasionally eat ants, chestnuts, blackberries and various vegetables, 

 f It has been confidently asserted that, after having fed for some time 

 on the laurel buds, their flesh becomes highly dangerous to eat of, 

 partaking of the poisonous qualities of the plant. 

 Though I have myself ate freely of the flesh of the Pheasant, after 

 emptying it of large quantities of laurel buds, without experiencing 

 any bad consequences, yet, from the respectability of those, some of 

 them eminent physicians, who have particularized cases in which it 

 has proved deleterious, and even fatal, I am inclined to believe that, 

 in certain cases, where this kind of food has been long continued, and 

 the birds allowed to remain undrawn for several days, until- the con- 

 tents of the crop and stomach have had time to diffuse themselves 

 through the flesh, as is too often the case, it may be unwholesome 

 and even dangerous." 



My knowledge of the food-materials of the Grouse is limited to 

 some thirty examinations which I have made, during the months of 

 October, November and December, of birds which have been killed 

 in Schuylkill, Chester and Dauphin counties, Pennsylvania. 1 found 

 the greater part of these birds had fed chiefly on Partridge-berries 

 (Gaultheria procumbena), others had in their crops and gizzards 

 chestnuts, small seeds and other vegetable matter. Ten of this lot 

 were shot when the snow was deep and they all were gorged with 

 buds of laurel. 



t Prof. John H. Brinton, M. D., of the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa., informed 

 me that he had known of several cases of Glossitis (inflammation of the tongue) to have been 

 caused by eating Pheasants which had fed on laurel. Warren. 



