BLUE JAY 225 



This elegant and common species is met with through- 

 out America. In the interior, from the remote north- 

 western regions near Peace river in the 54 degree, Lake 

 Winnipique in the 49° ; and southwestward to the 

 banks of the Arkansa, and New California; also along 

 the Atlantic regions from Newfoundland to the peninsula 

 of Florida, and the shores of the Gulph of Mexico. 



The Blue Jay is a constant inhabitant both of the wood- 

 ed wilderness and the vicinity of the settled farm, though 

 more familiar at the approach of winter and early in 

 spring, than at any other season. These wanderings or 

 limited migrations are induced by necessity alone ; his 

 hoards of grain, nuts, and acorns, either have failed, or 

 are forgotten ; for, like other misers, he is more assiduous 

 to amass, than to expend or enjoy his stores, and the fruits 

 of his labors very frequently either devolve to the rats or 

 squirrels, or accidentelly assist in the replanting of the for- 

 est. His visits at this time are not unfrequent in the gar- 

 den and orchard, and his usual petulant address, of djdy^ 

 jdy, jdy, and other harsh and trumpeting articulations, 

 soon make his retreat known to all in his neighbourhood. 

 So habitual is this centinel cry of alarm, and so expres- 

 sive, that all the birds within call, as well as other wild 

 animals, are instantly on the alert, so that the fowler and 

 hunter become generally disappointed of their game by 

 this his garrulous and noisy propensity ; he is therefore, 

 for his petulance, frequently killed without pity or profit, 

 as his flesh, though eaten, has but little to recommend it. 

 His more complaisant notes, when undisturbed, though 

 guttural and echoing, are by no means unpleasant, and 

 fall in harmoniously with the cadence of the feathered 

 choristers around him, so as to form a finishing part to 

 the general music of the grove. His accents of blandish- 

 ment, when influenced by the softer passions, are low and 



