274 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Ci/anura crtHata 



more shorter thau in Pennsylvania examples, while the bill is not any 

 smaller. The crest is very short ; the white spaces ou secondaries and tail- 

 feathers more restricted. 



Habits. The common Blue 

 Jay of Morth America is found 

 throuj^hout the continent, from 

 the Atlantic coast to the Mis- 

 souri Valley, and from Florida 

 and Te.\as to the fnr regions 

 nearly or quite to the 5Gth 

 parallel. It was found breeding 

 near Lake Winnepeg by Donald 

 Gunn. It was also observed in 

 these regions by Sir John Eich- 

 ardson. It was met with by 

 Captain Blakiston on the forks 

 of tlie Saskatchewan, but not 

 fartlier west. 



The entire family to wliicli 

 this Jay belongs, and of which 

 it is a very conspicuous member, 

 is nearly cosmopolitan as to distribution, and is distinguished by the 

 remarkable intelligence of all its members. Its habits are striking, peculiar, 

 and full of interest, often evincing sagacity, forethought, and intelligence 

 strongly akin to reason. These traits belong not exclusively to any one 

 species or generic subdivision, but are common to the whole family. 



Wlien first met with in the wild and unexplored regions of our country, 

 the Jay appears shy and suspicious of the intruder, man. Yet, curious to a 

 remarkable degree, he follows the stranger, watches all his movements, hov- 

 ers with great pertinacity about his steps, ever keeping at a respectful dis- 

 tance, even Ijefore lie has been taught to beware of the deadly gun. After- 

 wards, as he becomes l)etter acquainted with man, tlie Jay conforms his own 

 conduct to the treatment he receives. Where he is hunted in wanton sport, 

 because of brilliant plumage, or persecuted because of unjust prejudices and 

 a bad reputation not deserved, he is shy and wary, shuns, as mucli as possible, 

 human society, and, wlien the hunter intrudes into his retreat, seems to 

 delight to follow and annoy him, and to give the alarm to all dwellers of 

 the woods that their foe is appi'oaching. 



In parts of the country, as in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and otiier Western 

 States, where the Jay is unmolested and exempt from ]iersecution, we find 

 him as familiar and confiding as any of the favored birds of the Eastern 

 States. In the groves of Iowa Mr. Allen found our Blue Jay nearly as 

 unsuspicious as a Black-ca]iped Titmouse. In Illinois he speaks of them as 

 very abundant and half domestic. And again, in Indiana, in one of the 



