HUFFED CROUSE. 
319 
constitute, at that season, the greater part of their 
food. During the deep snows of winter, they have 
Recourse to the huds of alder, and the tender buds 
of the laurel. 1 have frequently found their crops 
distended with a large handful of these latter alone ; 
Olid it has been confidently asserted, that, alter having 
fed for some time on the laurel buds, their llesh becomes 
liighly dangerous to eat of, partaking of the poisonous 
lualities of the plant. The same has been asserted of 
the flesh of the deer, when, in severe weather aud deep 
Snows, they subsist on the leaves and bark of the 
iaurei.’ Though I have myself ate freely of the fle.sh 
of the pheasant, after emptying it of large quantities of 
laurel buds, without experiencing any had consequences, 
yet from the respectability of those, some of them 
eminent physicians, who have particukrized cases in 
h'hich it has proved deleterious, and even fatal, I am 
Inclined to believe, that, in certain cases, where this 
hind of food h.ei been long continued, and the birds 
allowed to remain undrawn for several days, until the 
contents 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, 
flreat numbers of these birds are brought to our markets, 
ft all times, during full and winter ; some of which 
fi’e brou'dit from a distance of more than a hundred 
hiiles aud have been probably dead a week or two, 
UniiiJked and undrawn, before they are purchased for 
tl»e table. Regulations, prohibiting them from being 
lirouoht to market unless picked and drawn, would, 
^ery''nrobably, be a sufficient security from alt danger. 
At these inclement seasons, however, they are generally 
lean and dry; and, indeed, at all times, their flesh is far 
Inferior to that of the quail, or of the pinnated grouse. 
They are usually sold, in Philadelphia market, at from 
three quarters of a dollar to a dollar and a quarter 
f'Pair, and sometimes higher. _ , , . 
The pheasant, or partridge of New England, is 
«Shtcen inches long, and twenty-three inches in 
extent ; bill, a horn colour, paler below ; eye, reddish 
’ ’ .1 
