228 OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 



The worst trait of his appetite, however, is his relish for 

 the eggs of other birds, in quest of which he may fre- 

 quently be seen prowling, and with a savage cruelty he 

 sometimes also devours the callow young, spreading the 

 plaint of sorrow and alarm wherever he flits. The whole 

 neighbouring community of little birds, assembled at the 

 cry of distress, sometimes, however, succeed in driving 

 off the ruthless plunderer, who, not always content with 

 the young, has been seen to attack the old, though with 

 dubious success ; but to the gallant and quarrelsome King- 

 bird, he submits like a coward, and driven to seek shel- 

 ter, even on the ground, from the repeated blows of his 

 antagonist, sneaks off, well contented to save his life. 



The Blue Jay often builds his nest in the cedar, and 

 sometimes on an orchard tree, displaying little art in its 

 construction, forming it of twigs and other coarse materials, 

 and lining it with the fibres of roots. The eggs, about 5, 

 are of a dull olive, and spotted with brown. He is par- 

 ticularly cautious to make his visits to the spot as silent 

 and secret as possible. Although a few of these birds 

 are seen with us nearly through the winter, numbers, no 

 doubt, make predatory excursions to milder regions, so 

 that they appear somewhat abundant at this season in the 

 Southern States; yet they are known to rear their young 

 from Canada, to South Carolina, so that their migrations, 

 may be nothing more than journeys from the high-lands 

 towards the warmer and more productive sea-coast, or 

 eastern frontier. 



The Jay is 11 inches in length. The crest is pale blue. A narrow 

 line of black runs along the frontlet, rising on each side higher than 

 the eye, but not extending over it. A collar of black passes down so 

 as to form a crescent on the breast. Back and upper parts of the neck 

 of a fine liofht purple, in which blue predominates. Chin, cheeks, 

 throat, and belly, white, with some blue, except in the last. Greater 

 wing-coverts rich blue. Coverts and secondaries barred with cres- 



