Our Blue Jay Neighbors 



BY MRS, HARRIET CARPENTER THAYER. Minneapolis. Minn. 



Ilhislralrii by photoj;raph« from naluri- by Thos. S. Roberts 



II is pcrliaps a rare pri\ ilc^c, in the midst of a lartie city, to be chosen as 

 neighbors by a family of Hhie Jays, yet such was our ^ood fortune. 

 Ihey came one May morning into the top of a younji ehii tree close 

 by our bedroom window. One had a twig in his mouth which he was en- 

 dcaxorin;^ to ijet into position in the site selectetl for the nest. He pulled 



IS HI. J.W ON NEST 



and tugged, now bendinfi; his body, now twitching his head, until at last he 

 succeeded : and the news spread abroad that a pair of Hlue Ja\s were building 

 a nest in our tree. For two days they worked, completing the outside; 

 then they came at longer intervals for two days more, bringing choice bits 

 of finishing for the inside. Hoth birds took part in the labor of house- 

 building. 



During these da\s three small heads were often peering at them from the 

 window near b\ and shrill little voices often interrupted their work. Hut at 

 last, though we trembled lest we had frightened them away by our frantic 

 efiforts to keep quiet, the mother settled down on her nest and only whispers 

 were heard at the window. 



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