Northern Observations of Inland Birds 267 



advertise their presence that it is not difficult for an 

 experienced keeper to exterminate the whole family. 

 Indeed I think that their numbers in one locality or 

 another depend entirely upon the activity of the game- 

 keeping fraternity. 



These birds are much disliked for their tell-tale habits 

 as for their destructiveness. Poachers hate them, for they 

 are the first to see and spread the alarm. Similarly 

 the keeper hates them, because they quickly betray his 

 whereabouts when he is anxious to pass unseen. The 

 Red Indians, however, those masters of woodcraft, 

 understand jay language, and from it they take many a 

 hint during their hunting. For other wild folk take their 

 warning from the jay, and an Indian never attempts to 

 stalk a deer which suspects the approach of danger till 

 the jays give their '* all's well '' call. The deer then 

 continues to feed without alarm, and it goes without 

 saying that the Indians themselves have learnt to mimic 

 certain of this bird's notes so effectively that the trick is 

 of real assistance in their hunting. 



So far as my own experience goes, I would say that 

 the jay is not so destructive on game preserves as many 

 people think, and I would prefer to see him occupying 

 the woods than the shrike. He is an alert and vivacious 

 bird, which is thoroughly worth watching if one takes 

 the pains to observe his habits. He alights on a branch 

 and looks about him with an enquiring eye. Up go his 

 wings and tail, then down again. His crest is alter- 

 natively raised and lowered, his bright eyes glance in 

 this direction and in that, then, having seen you, for 

 so little misses him, away he goes, shrieking and chattering, 

 presently to draw the whole of the jay community of the 

 district to the neighbouring trees. 



In the early spring of the year jays are much given to 

 social gatherings. I have seen as many as a dozen of 



