THE CANADA JAY 



one or more of these birds. I have seen one alight in 

 the middle of my canoe and peck away at the carcass 

 of a beaver I had skinned. They often spoil deer sad- 

 dles by pecking into them near the kidneys. They do 

 grea-t damage to the trappers by stealing the bait from 

 traps set for martens and minks and by eating trapped 

 game; they will spoil a marten in a short time. They 

 will sit quietly and see you build a log trap and bait it, 

 and then, almost before your back is turned, you hear 

 their hateful ca-ca-ca as they glide down and peer into 

 it. They will work steadily carrying off meat and hid- 

 ing it.' " 



[13] 



