either shelled or on the cob, to other grains. 
Food Value - Game birds which eat only one kind of grain obviously 
cannot be given a wide choice of food, but those eating a variety of grains

should be fed that grain which is best suited to keep the birds fit.to 
meet the hardships of winter. Errington (1930, p.9 found that corn was 
capable of brir~ng quail through the winter in excellent condition, and 
as yet there is nothing to prove that this does not apply to other game 
birds. In Wood and Juneau counties sharp-tailed grouse that were fed on 
buckwheat came through the winter without losing weight. 
Availability - Food may be present, but not available as a food. 
Errington (1931)finds that locust beans are not available due to the fact

that more energy must be used in clipping the beans from the tree than 
can be derived from the food eaten. Errington tunpublishedo notes that 
a corn shock or feedin   s not available if it is watched by a Cooper's 
hawk. Weed seeds, nuts and grains are not available if they are covered 
with ice and snow. 
The exact grit requirements of game birds in the northern states 
is not known, but the addition of grit to a feeding station can not help

but be beneficial. In England an extensive study of grit was made and below

are two quotations from the "Grouse Report. 
"It is particularly unfortunate that during deep snow, when grouse 
have great difficulty in replenishing their stock of gizzard grits, they

are compelled by hunger to feed upon the very foods which most rapidly 
evacuate their entire stock of grits. The hips and haws whose large hatd

seeds, as has been said, quickly replace the quartz in their gizzards, are

comparatively useless to them for dealing with heather or blackberry 
shoots, yet the bush and tree fnuits are among the first emergency rations

used in a heavy fall of snow, since they come within reach as the ground
foods 
become mpre deeply buried."  (Grouse Report, p.99)3 
S-November,ngtnPaul L. Corn on Cob Saves Wintering Quail, American Game,