186 



BIRDS. 



case a few years ago, while in Ireland the reverse is taking 

 place, and it is diminishing in range as well as in numbers. 

 In Northern Germany the jay is exceedingly common, 

 and in the Eostocker Heide, in Mecklenburg- Schwerin, I 

 frequently had opportunities in the sj)ring of 1890 of 

 witnessing the remarkable assemblies of courting birds, 

 which are rarely to be seen nowadays in this country. 



The birds would chase one another, almost oblivious of 

 intrusion and with some of the abandonment noticed in 

 the love-sick black grouse, hopping, too, unlike the rest 

 of the group. There was also a sweeter note than is 

 usually uttered by the bird — an effort, doubtless, of the 

 suitor. During the actual breeding- season the jays were 

 comparatively silent, being once more at their noisiest in 

 July. The bird will, true to its scientific name, take 



