ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF OUR BIRDS. 
591 
.184. Pedicecetes phasianellus Columbianus (Ord.), Coues. SOUTHERN 
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. Group I. Class c. 
This species is resident from Berlin northward, and was abundant in the 
vicinity of Lake Flambeau in October, 1877. 
Food: Tender leaves, thorn-apples, rose-hips, wheat and grasshoppers. 
In winter, buds of elder, poplar, etc. (Cooper). In the fall, chiefly grasshop¬ 
pers, only varied with a few flowers, weed-tops, succulent leaves, and an occa¬ 
sional beetle or spider; in winter, chiefly berries of the cedar, and buds of the 
poplar and cottonwood or willow (Coues). 
185. CupiDONiA cupiDO (Linn.), Bd. PINNATED GROUSE; PRAIRIE HEN. 
Group I. Class b. 
A common resident, but rapidly disappearing before the zeal of sportsmen. 
From early in the spring until after the middle of August this species is con¬ 
fined almost exclusively to meadows, and during this long period it is probable 
that its food consists very largely of insects, and that the services it renders by 
holding in check cut-worms and grasshoppers are very great, while its injurious 
effects are almost inappreciable. There are but few sections in the state where 
the destruction of the Prairie Hen should not be entirely prohibited, at least for 
a term of years. 
Food: Insects of various kinds, wheat, corn, buckwheat and other grains, 
weed- and grass-seeds and some vegetable material. 
186. Bonasa ujibella (Linn.), Steph. RUFFED GROUSE; PARTRIDGE. 
Group I. Class c. 
The Ruffed Grouse, or Partridge, as it is often called, is a common resident 
during the whole year in all portions of the state suitable to its tastes. Unlike 
the Prairie Chicken, this species is emphatically a woodland bird, though it is 
not confined to heavily timbered districts. The numerous dense groA^es of small 
trees bordering the prairies and in thickly settled districts are the haunts which 
please it well. From these resorts it rarely invades cultiA^ated fields. This bird 
appears to be very fond of the buds of certain trees, upon which it subsists to a 
considerable extent during the cold months, but it is not likely to become so 
abundant as to injure shade or forest trees to any appreciable extent. 
Food: Of six specimens examined, two had eaten twenty-four caterpillars; 
one, the grub of a beetle; one, two grasshoppers; one, seven harvest-men; one, 
fruit; one, foliage; one seeds; one, partridge-berries; and three, buds. 
A young chicken, probably not over a week old, had in its stomach thirteen 
caterpillars, the grub of a beetle and seven harvest-men. An adult bird taken 
in October had in its stomach and crop three hundred and four white-birch buds. 
Various vegetables, whortleberries, partridge-berries, blackberries, seeds of 
grapes and chestnuts. In winter, buds of alder and laurel, occasionally ants 
(Wilson). In summer, seeds, berries, grapes and other fruits. In winter, buds 
of various trees (De Kay). Various seeds, berries, grapes and insects; also 
leaves of evergreens, buds of trees, pieces of apples left on the trees, mosses 
and leaves of laurel (Samuels). In the spring, buds of various kinds of trees, 
especially birches. In Maine, buds of black birch. In summer, largely esculent 
berries, as raspberries, blueberries and huckleberries. In Maine they have been 
accused of visiting apple-orchards and fruit-buds (Brewer). . . 
