LONG-CRESTED JAY 75 



downward, the long crest almost bobbing forward; at other times the 

 attitude would be more one of sneaking and peering, with head near the 

 ground and crest drawn back. With incomprehensible intuition, a cer- 

 tain spot would be selected, and a hole dug with powerful strokes of the 

 bill, each stroke accompanied by a side motion of the head. In this way 

 the miniature mattock would make quite a little excavation (sometimes 

 as deep as the bird's bill was long) and something edible would be 

 found, as the up-jerk of the bill would plainly show. * * * The bird's 

 bill is its constantly used tool. It turns over small stones with its bill 

 and, especially, it scratches among dead leaves with its bill." 



Dr. Coues (1871) says that "in the mountains where the Long- 

 crested lives, pine-seeds contribute in large part to his nourishment. I 

 have often watched the bird hammering away at a cone, which some- 

 times he would wedge in a crotch, and sometimes hold with his feet, 

 like a hawk with a mouse. Though most at houiC in the depths of the 

 pines where the supply is pretty sure, he often strays into the adjoin- 

 ing patches of scrubby oak and juniper after the acorns and berries, or 

 to pick a quarrel with Woodhouse's jay, and frighten the sparrows." 



Dr. Walter P. Taylor tells me that in Texas these jays do con- 

 siderable damage to strawberries. 



Behavior. — In a general way the habits of the long-crested jay are 

 similar to those of other members of the species, or of most other jays 

 as well. Dr. Coues (1871) gives us a good sketch of jay character, as 

 follows : 



All the jays make their share of noise in the world; they fret and scold about 

 trifles, quarrel over nothing, and keep everything in a ferment when they are 

 about. The particular kind we are talking about is nowise behind his fellows 

 in these respects ; a stranger to modesty and forebearance, and the many gentle 

 qualities that charm us in some little birds and endear them to us, he is a regular 

 fillibuster, ready for any sort of adventure, that promises sport or spoil, even if 

 spiced with danger. Sometimes he prowls about alone, but oftener has a band 

 of choice spirits with him, who keep each other in countenance — for our jay is 

 a coward at heart like other bullies — and share the plunder on the usual principle 

 in such cases, of each taking all he can get. * * * But withal our jay has his 

 good points, and I confess to a sneaking sort of regard for him. An elegant 

 dashing fellow, of good presence if not good manners ; a tough, wiry, independent 

 creature, with sense enough to take precious good care of himself, as you would 

 discover if you tried to get his skin. 



Mr. Abbott (1929) was evidently impressed with his vigorous char- 

 acter, for he says: "In fact the word 'vigorous' aptly fits most of the 

 activities of the Long-crested Jay. He will alight in a tree and hop up, 

 up, up as though ascending the rungs of a ladder, from sheer energy. 

 He wipes his bill on the branch with the utmost vigor. He loves to 

 'flick' his wings and tail. When he launches himself into flight from a 



