14 BIRDS OF THE PLAINS 



designs on the same cock. He sat and looked on from 

 a distance at the contest, and would assuredly have 

 purred with delight had he known how to do so ! But 

 of this more anon. The blue-jay lovers sit on a branch, 

 side by side, and gaze upon one another with enraptured 

 eyes. Suddenly one of them betakes itself to some 

 other tree, uttering its hoarse screeches as it flies. Its 

 companion follows almost immediately and then begins 

 to bow and scrape, puff out its neck, slowly wave its 

 tail, and utter unmusical cries. The bird which is being 

 thus courted adds its voice to that of its companion. 

 The raucous duet over, silence reigns for a little. Then 

 one of the birds moves on, to be followed by its com- 

 panion, and the above performance is repeated, and will 

 continue to be repeated dozens of times before the 

 birds give themselves over to family cares. 



The greatest admirer of the blue jay could not call 

 its nest a work of art. The eggs are laid in a hole in a 

 tree or building. Usually the hole is more or less lined 

 by a promiscuous collection of grass, tow, feathers, and 

 the like, but sometimes the birds are content to lay 

 their eggs in the bare cavity. 



The blue jay, although so brazen over its courtship, 

 strongly objects to having its family affairs pried into, 

 so if you would find its nursery you must, unless you 

 are lucky, exercise some patience. The birds stead- 

 fastly refuse to visit the nest when they know they are 

 being watched. If patience be a virtue great, the blue 

 jay is a most virtuous bird, for, if it is aware that it is 

 being observed, it will take up a perch and sit there for 

 hours, mournfully croaking, rather than betray the 



