212 Bird -Lore 



believe that there were hundreds of them, varying from one-fourth of an inch to 

 four inches, or as long as the little builders themselves. 



Though my study of this famil\- came to an unhappy ending, later in the 

 vear I had in my yard a large flock of these birds, at least ten of which were 

 nesthngs. It was amusing to sec the chubby little fellows sitting in rows on a twig, 

 hugging close together, as if they feared they might lose each other. 



There were at least three old birds feeding this large family, and I did not 

 know just what to make of it. Were there two families joined forces? If not, 

 whv three old birds feeding? Alas, there are many unsolved questions awaiting 

 the student who would delve into bird-lore. 



For three days they were about in my yard, still being fe<l, and then I lost 

 track of them. Bush-tits make almost daily visits to my yard the entire year round, 

 but just which particular liush-tits they are, and whether they are "mine", 

 I, of course, have no way of telling. 



Blue Jay Boarders 



By PAULA J. RITTER 



Illustrated by the author 



THK following notes on the habits of Blue Jays are based on the study of 

 birds that come to the feeding-shelves in the window of my home situated 

 four miles from the Court House in the city of Chicago. If a Blue Jay 

 accidentally pushes a nut off the sill he will not hesitate to fl}- down on the floor, 

 and seems to prefer the carpet to the bare wood when walking in the room. 



I find that it is a bad policy to let Jays enter the house, however, for they 

 are such fighters among themselves that if one should attempt to fly out of the 

 room when another entered, there is always an encounter. In flying around a 

 room the Jays always touch the ceiling when flapjMng their wings, and of course 

 always select the highest perch. 



I thought I understood a few of the Jay's notes, and had tlecided that " Ic-liu- 

 ha'' was a laugh, if a bird rould laugh. It alwa\s tame from the victor of a fight 

 in the trees and always brought other birds to witness further fighting. One day, 

 however, a Blue Jav went astrav in my room and perched over my mantle on 

 a fencing mask whit h was fastened to two crossetl foils, and lied with class colors, 

 and immediately gave his two college yells, the common "Jay'' anti what I had 

 taken for a sarcastic laugh. He did not seem afraid but ke])t his ])erch ft)r fully 

 five minutes and kei»t u|) his noise. I always tlraw tlown ihe blinds and leave 

 just a i)art of one windt)w oj)en to sht)W the way out. This Ijirtl, ht)wever, kept 

 up his yells. Other Jays came for nuts at the window-sill but paid nt) attention 

 to him and riiiallv he llew out. 



One Cjueer habit of the Jays is in returning food. Stxiietimes no bird has been 

 at the window for ten or fifteen minutes, when one will come and return his two 



