WINTER COMRADES 151 



Not satisfied with a diet of mice, shrews, bugs 

 of various kinds, berries, grain, nuts, etc., they 

 eat the eggs and nestlings of other birds, even 

 killing the parents if they offer too strenuous 

 objection to these depredations. The truth is 

 they are natural thieves and marauders. 



The vocabulary of the Blue Jay is an exten- 

 sive one, and not only do they voice their own 

 characteristic calls, but they closely imitate 

 other birds, especially the Red-shouldered and 

 Red-winged Hawks, Catbird, etc. Sometimes 

 you will hear a tremendous row in the woods, 

 with just enough intelligible Jay talk to give 

 them away. Follow up the din, and you will 

 find a pack of Jays mobbing an Owl, harassing 

 the poor creature whose eyesight is defective in 

 daytime, till he is quite beside himself. But 

 when he alights and faces his tormentors they 

 keep beyond the reach of his well armed feet 

 and bill. Owl baiting is a favorite amusement 

 with these feathered bullies. 



The plumage of the Blue Jay is grayish blue 

 above, dusky white below. The wings and tail 

 are bright blue with black bars, many feathers 

 having white tips. The prominent crest is blue 

 and there is a black stripe somewhat irregular 

 in form extending from the back of the head 

 down the sides of the neck and across the breast. 

 The bill and legs are black. This bird is a foot 

 long. The nest is made of sticks well woven 

 together, and is placed some distance from the 

 ground. The very pretty eggs are pale green, 

 thickly mottled with brown. I'hcir range extends 

 from Florida to Newfoundland and they are 



