378 HISTORY OF THE 



Iris dark brown; bill, legs, feet and claws black. 



I know that I cannot please the reader better than by giving 

 the following interesting description, by Nuttall, of this hand- 

 some, conspicuous bird, of questionable character, wherein he 

 says: 



"The Blue Jay is a constant inhabitant both of the wooded 

 wilderness and the vicinity of the settled farm, though more fa- 

 miliar at the approach of winter and early in spring than at 

 any other season. These wanderings or limited migrations are 

 induced by necessity alone; his hoards of grain, nuts and acorns 

 either have failed or are forgotten; for, like other misers, he is 

 more assiduous to amass than to expend or enjoy his stores, 

 and the fruits of his labors very frequently devolve to the rats 

 or squirrels, or accidentally assist in the replanting of the forest. 

 His visits at this time are not unfrequent in the garden and or- 

 chard, and his usual petulant address of "Djay, jay, jay," and 

 other harsh and trumpeting articulations, soon make his retreat 

 known to all in the neighborhood. So habitual is this sentinel 

 cry of alarm, and so expressive, that all the birds within call, 

 as well as other wild animals, are instantly on the alert, so that 

 the fowler and hunter become generally disappointed of their 

 game by this his garrulous and noisy propensity; he is there- 

 fore, for his petulance, frequently killed without pity or profit, 

 for his flesh, though eaten, has little to recommend it. His 

 more complaisant notes, when undisturbed, though guttural and 

 echoing, are by no means unpleasant, and fall in harmoniously 

 with the cadence of the feathered choristers around him, so as 

 to form a finishing part to the general music of the grove. His 

 accents of blandishment, when influenced by the softer passions, 

 are low and musical, so as to be scarcely heard beyond the thick 

 branches where he sits concealed; but, as soon as discovered, he 

 bursts out into notes of rage and reproach, accompanying his 



voice by jerks and actions of temerity and defiance 



He also exhibits a great antipathy to the Owl, and by his loud 

 and savage vociferation soon brings together a noisy troop of 

 all the busy birds in the neighborhood. To this garrulous at- 

 tack the night wanderer has no reply but a threatening stare of 



