Canadian Jay; Whiskey Jack; Camp Robbee; 



MoOSE-BlED 



484. Peris oerus canadensis 



This Jay is much paler in all of its colorings than 

 the Blue Jay. The head and nape of the Canadian Jay are 

 blackish and its back is ashy gray; the wings and tail are 

 ashy blue and faintly tipped with white. The length of 

 the bird is twelve inches. 



These Jays build their nests in coniferous trees in 

 remote and secluded places in the bottom land in Canada 

 and the northern states, and on the foothills and sides 

 of the Rockies. There is no bird that boasts a warmer 

 or more serviceable nest than the Canadian Jay, as it 

 is the very earliest to build, frequently building and lay- 

 ing its eggs in zero weather. In our northern states full- 

 grown young birds are often seen in early April. The 

 eggs, four in number, are grayish with dark brown spots. 



This Jay has a variety of pleasing notes and, like 

 the Blue Jay, may fool you by its mimicry of other birds. 

 It is an omnivorous eater and has the audacity of a pet 

 Crow. Repeatedly, while on big game hunting trips in 

 the remote regions of Canada, Alaska and the Rockies 

 of the United States, I was visited at my camps by some 

 of these birds, who made themselves at home by help- 

 ing themselves to anything that met their fancy. I found 

 them to be inveterate thieves; they would perch on a 

 pine tree ten or fifteen feet from where I was eating and 

 fuss, quarrel and complain about my want of hospitality, 

 or charity. The instant my back was turned, or I took 

 my eye off them, or the food was left for a minute, one 

 of the Jays flew to my plate, grabbed a piece of venison 

 or moose meat and departed in triumphant haste. One 

 day I nailed a piece of tough mountain goat meat to a 

 stump near my tent and gave *' Jack" an invitation to 

 help himself. He was not slow in accepting my hospi- 

 tality, at the same time having his picture made. (Fig. 

 77.) 



152 



