1904J The Canada Jay. 143 



as you or I could change a like article from one hand to the other. 

 But all do not live all the time by camp robbing, or trap-robbing. 

 If they did many of the names applied to them would be 'well 

 earned. 



Let us see the Canada jay from an economic, a beneficial 

 point of view. This will bring to light other habits and a different 

 food supply. Small mammals, killed by the birds themselves, are 

 part of the bill of fare, and insects in all stages of life form a large 

 part of the menu even among camp fed birds. 



The writer pertormed a surgical operation upon a Canada jay 

 which had been in the habit of dining with a crew of lumbermen, 

 and was much surprised to find that nearly one thousand eggs of 

 the Lorset tent-caterpillar had been taken for breakfast. The 

 chrysalids of this caterpillar are also fed upon, and in the autumn 

 while the birds are migrating south they feed largely upon locusts, 

 beetle';, etc. The young taken in June feed upon beetles and 

 caterpillars, species well known to the birds but unknown to the 

 writer. 



What real naturalists our wild birds are, knowing how, when 

 and where to find and obtain their food supply, be it insect in any 

 of its stages, plant forms, or other life. Were we able to under- 

 stand our wild neighbors what a great amount of information 

 could be gained regarding the life histories of many forms of life. 



A most interesting entertainment to witness is when the 

 Canada jay turns his attention to collecting mice. Not only is it 

 interesting to witness but from appearances the performances is 

 highly interesting to both jay and mouse. A Canada jay was heard 

 shrieking and calling in such a manner as to call the attention of 

 man. A mouse had been running over the snow from one burrow 

 to another when it was espied by the sharp eye of the jay, who im- 

 mediately gave battle by flying down and catching the mouse in 

 its bill, whereupon the mammal turned upon its foe and prepared 

 to defend itself by trying to bite the bird, but the jay seemed aware 

 of such tactics and suddenly dropped its prey. The mouse sprinted 

 for cover, but was again held up. These tactics we.-e followed 

 until the mouse had become too badly inmred to run, when it was 

 most viciously seized and pecked to death. With screams of vie- 



