The Audubon Societies 269 



[The writer suggests that the Cardinals must be 'plucky' birds since they monopo- 

 lized the drinking-pan while visiting it, but, since many other species have a similar 

 habit, it is more probable that each bird, much like humans, seeks its own advantage, 

 except during the nesting-cycle when its mate and young are likely to receive especial 

 consideration. This is a point for observers to notice with regard to different species. 

 In fact, scarcely any action of birds is without interest and instruction for us. — A. H. W.] 



THE BLUE JAY 



In this latitude, a few miles from Long Island Sound, we don't feel as 

 friendly to Blue Jays as Lowell seems to in his more northern 'garden.' Here 

 is what he says: "Of late years the Jays have visited us only at intervals; and 

 in their bright plumage set off by the snow, and their cheerful cry, are espe- 

 cially welcome" — not to us. Waking up, as they seem to, early in the morning, 

 they come to the front soon after the Sparrows and Robins and continue in 

 front all day long. One neighbor has a poultry-yard, which these bold birds 

 seem to think belongs to them. They alight on the fence-poles, and, flying down 

 among the hens, help themselves to anything to be found there. 



If this were their only fault, they would be more cheerfully tolerated. But 

 their noisy combativeness is too well known to us. They drive the other birds 

 from the cherry trees, the mulberry and the sugar-berry trees, which we have 

 devoted to smaller birds. They show their belligerency in other ways. A pair 

 built a nest in an apple tree, near our back door. We had heard of their un- 

 provoked attacks upon defenseless women, consequently felt afraid to go near 

 the nest to get our garden flowers. A neighbor, pitying our helplessness, 

 offered to climb the tree and move the nest to a tree further off. He said he 

 could do it so carefully and gently they would never realize that they had 

 been moved. I had my misgivings. He began to climb very boldly at first, 

 but both Jays pitched on him, striking his head with their strong bills, but his 

 thick hat protected it. He was thankful to get away with only a scare. 

 Another neighbor, after being told of this, said he wasn't afraid to go up. He 

 climbed a little way and had the same experience. Afterward they were 

 allowed to rear their family in peace, while my roses wasted their fragrance. 

 Perhaps these Jays enjoyed it. Who knows? 



Now that their mating-season is over, they call and clamor as much as 

 ever, without taking even a Sunday's rest. Perhaps this is only their earnest 

 way of asking for their daily bread, like some naughty children at the break- 

 fast table. — Emily R. Gorham, Grove Beach, Conn. 



[The Blue Jay is hardly more pugnacious, and not so much so for its size and strength 

 than the Kingbird, Wood Pewee or tiny Hummingbird. We must learn to understand 

 the habits of birds and the emotions which influence the different cycles of their life 

 throughout the year, particularly at the nesting-season. The Jay is vociferous, and like 

 the Red-eyed Vireo may become tiresome to some observers on account of its ready voice, 

 but the majority of bird-lovers, like Lowell, welcome the handsome dandy, and overlook 

 what may seem at the time to be annoyances, in view of the cheery familiarity and 

 robust activity of a species that does far more good than harm. — A. H. W.] 



