NORTHERN BLUE JAY 49 



than the northward movement in spring. P. A. Taverner and B. H. 

 Swales (1907) describe a flock leaving Point Pelee on their southward 

 journey on Oc.tober 14, 1906. They say: 



We noticed a very interesting migration across the lake. All morning long we 

 saw large flocks passing out the Point. In the afternoon we followed them to 

 the end and, though most then had passed, we witnessed one small bunch of 

 perhaps fifty birds essay the passage. The day was fine and clear and but very 

 little wind blowing, but when they came out to the end of the trees they turned 

 back and sought a large tree-top, where they settled to talk the matter over 

 at the top of their voices. Then, reassured, they started out, rising above gun 

 shot from the ground and making for the Ohio shore, not for Pelee Island as 

 we supposed they would. When they got far enough out to see the blue water 

 under them they slowed up, and when we waved our hats and shouted at them 

 a fcAV wavered, paused and then fled back to the shore to their tree again, followed 

 a moment later by the whole flock. Another pow-pow was held and again 

 they started, with great determination and seemingly filled with the motto, 

 "Ohio or bust." This time they had hardly got well out over the lake when a 

 Sharp-shin was discerned far in the distance, but it was enough to again send 

 them shrieking back to their oak tree. This time the consultation lasted a little 

 longer than before, but at last the coast seemed clear and they started once more. 

 Again, as they drew over tlie water, they slightly paused as though doubtful, but 

 no one shouted, there was not a hawk in sight and, as there was no possible 

 excuse for backing out this time, they kept slowly and gingerly on until well 

 started and away from land, when they settled into their pace and, when lost 

 sight of in our glasses, were continuing on their way in a straight line that 

 would carry them several miles to the east of Pelee Island. 



William Brewster (1937), under date of September 21, 1895, gives 

 this account of migrating jays at Lake Umbagog, Maine : 



As I was bathing in the Lake at seven o'clock this morning a flock of 

 seventeen Blue Jays started from the woods on Pine Point and rose above them 

 to a height of fully tzvo thousand feet, by a spiral course not less than a half 

 mile across, making only one complete and another half, lateral turn during the 

 entire ascent. They then started off towards the southwest and kept straight on, 

 with ceaseless flapping; until lost to sight in the distance, thereby accomplishing 

 what was obviously the initial stage of a diurnal migratory flight. * ♦ * An 

 hour later the members of another flock, seventeen in number, appeared over the 

 Point at a height of about two hundred feet, probably arriving from somewhere 

 further north. Setting their wings they came hurtling down altogether, precisely 

 like those seen yesterday and making the same sound as of rushing wind. 

 [Quoted under Behavior.] It was loud enough to bring Jim Bernier, my guide, 

 running forth from his tent with the expectation, as he afterwards admitted, of 

 seeing a big flock of Scoters pitching down into the Lake. That the first flock of 

 Jays should have apparently started on a migratory journey, and the second have 

 completed one at so nearly the same time of day seems very interesting, and 

 also suggestive of the inference that these flights may often be of no great 

 duration. While engaged in them the birds remain severely silent, in this respect 

 differing from migrating Crows. Such, at least, has been the case with all that 

 I have observed for not one has ever uttered a vocal cry of any kind within 

 my hearing, when on wing. 



