THE WHISKY JACK. 151 



like beaks, much to the tough-skinned ruminant's 

 delight. 



It was pleasant to watch an old ox with three 

 or four of the blackbirds on his back, busy turn- 

 ing over the hairs with their beaks : the bullock, 

 slowly shutting and opening his great watery 

 eyes, rolling round his cud, and giving little grunts 

 of delight, seemed to enjoy the tickling sensation 

 (I am not sure that he knew what his feathered 

 friends were doing for his good), as much as if a 

 modern barber was brushing his hair by ma- 

 chinery. I never saw the nests of these birds, 

 but think they build in holes in the walls, or 

 rocks, if walls are not to be found. 



CANADA JAY, OR WHISKY JACK (Perisoreus 

 Canadensis, Bonap.). This and ' Steller's Jay' 

 are the only representatives of the jay family in 

 British Columbia. So familiar and confiding in 

 its habits is this plain little ash-coloured bird, and 

 at the same time so fond of being near the habi- 

 tations of man, that Canadian settlers and gold- 

 miners of the North-west style it the Whisky 

 Jack, never harm it, and say that wherever man 

 goes, Whisky and Whisky Jacks invariably 

 follow. In cold weather I have seen poor little 

 jack hop by the fire, perch himself on a log, ruff 

 up his feathers, and warm himself as fearlessly as 



