BRITISH BIRDS. 6"] 



of a like kind. The nests differ a good deal in finish and 

 construction. 



The eggs, four or five in number (Morris says five or six), 

 are pale bluish green, thickly spotted with purple and 

 brown ; they differ a good deal in appearance as well as 

 size. 



The female resembles the male, but her crest is smaller, 

 and the vinous red of her breast less pronounced. 



Length from extremity of bill to end of tail, 14 inches. 



The jay eats insects, young birds, and eggs, also snails, 

 worms, fruit, and does some harm in country gardens ; but 

 he also does much good, as a careful watching of his ways 

 must undoubtedly prove. He is an extremely vigilant 

 creature, the watch-bird, indeed, of wood and copse, and is 

 invariably the first to warn the feathered inhabitants of 

 the approach of an enemy, bipedal or quadrupedal, for 

 which reason, as well as for his undoubted partiality for 

 game eggs au nattirel, he is abhorred by shooters, whom he 

 often baulks of an expected prey by uttering his harsh cry 

 of " wrak wrak " in time to enable the intended victim to 

 effect its escape. 



Fishermen also use the blue wing feathers in the con- 

 struction of " flies," but it is chiefly to gamekeepers that 

 the almost complete extermination of this beautiful, and, on 

 the whole, useful bird is due. 



The Chough, or Cornish Chough, as it is sometimes called, 

 is, at first sight, very unlike a crow ; but a closer acquaint- 

 ance soon demonstrates the fact that his habits and 

 proclivities are decidedly corvine. 



The general colour of the plumage is black, but shaded 

 with brilliant reflections of green and blue and purple. 

 The long bill and the legs and feet are reddish orange. 



The female resembles the male, but is a little smaller and 

 less brilliant in colour. 



