42 



THE GRAY JAY. 



Tlie hunter knuws them for arch sycophants, and he is occasionally able to 

 trace a wuunded deer, or tu' locate a carcass by the movements oi these 

 expectant heirs. Says Mr. A. W. Anthony^: "While dressing deer in the 

 thick timljer I have been almost covered with Jays flying down from the 

 neighboring trees. They would settle on my back, head, or shoulders, tugging 

 and pulling at each loose shred of my coat until one would think that their 

 only object was tn help me in all ways possible." 



In the higher latitudes "Whisky Jack," in spite of carefully secreted 

 stores, often becomes very emaciated in winter, a mere bunch of bones 

 and feathers, no . 

 heavier than a Rerl- ' 

 poll. While the Jays 

 of our kindlier clime 

 do not feel so- keenh 

 the belly pinch df 

 winter, thev have 

 the same thrifty halj- 

 its as their northern 

 kinfolk. Food is 

 ne\-er refused, and a 

 well - stuffed speci- 

 men will still carr\ 

 grub from camp ami 

 secrete it in bark- 

 crevice iir hollow, 

 against the unknown 

 hour of need. 



I have never heard 



the Gray Jay titter more than a soft cooing 2vlicc ezv repeated at random ; 

 but Bendire credits it with a near approach to song'': and Mrs. Bailey says 

 of the Jays on Mr. Hood'^ : "Their notes were pleasantly varied. One 

 call was remarkablv like the chirp of a robin. Another of the common- 

 est was a weak and rather complaining cry repeated several times. A 

 sharply contrasting one was a pure clear whistle of one note followed 

 by a three-syllabled call something like Ka-wc-aJi. The regular rallying 

 cry was still dilTerent, a loud and striking two-syllaliled ka-ii'hcc." 



The eggs of the Gra\- Ja\' have not \ei been reported from this State, 

 but it is known that the bird builds a very substantial nest of twigs, grasses, 

 plant fibre, and mosses without mud. and that it provides a heavy lining of 



7-,7;,-,-i 



National Pari!. 



A B.XCHELOR'S PET. 



Photo by J. H. Boudcs. 



a. The Auk, Vol. III., 1886, p. 167. 



b. Life Histories of N. A. Birds, Vol. II., p. 394. 



c. Handbook Birds of the Western U. S., pp. 278-9. 



