2l6 



Sketches of Montana. 



straight indeed, slightly erects the feathers 

 of his head and utters a low flute-like 

 whistle, which seems to be a note of warn- 

 ing, and is almost always respected. They 

 are not satisfied with taking what they 

 want to eat, not at all. After they have 

 satisfied their appetites, they continue to 

 come and plunder, carying off their booty 

 and laying up in secret storehouses that 

 they have far up above the earth, where it 

 will be safe from the depredations of any 

 but feathered thieves. More on this point 

 will be told elsewhere. 



But though the gray jays do not fear 

 mortal man, there is one of their own kins- 

 folk that they hold in high respect, and 

 for whom they at once make way. As Yo 

 sat there with his back against a tree and 

 with his open book on his knee lazily 

 watching the robber brood, a dark shape 

 flashed across an opening in the spruces 

 and a moment later a superb Steller's jay 

 alighted in a small tree which overlooked 

 the camp, erected his long crest, looked 

 about him for an instant, and then hopping 

 from one branch to another, ascended to 

 the topmost spray, where he hung for an 

 instant, swinging backward and forward 

 on the slender twig. Then he darted 

 down and lit upon the meat, and after an- 

 other glace around him, to see that all was 

 safe, attacked it vigorously, sinking his 

 sharp bill into the tender flesh at every 

 stroke. He was a fine fellow, beautiful in 

 color and shape, with dark blue wings and 

 tail and a smoky-brown body and head, a 

 long crest and light blue dots on his fore- 

 head; trim, graceful, alert and quick in all 

 his motions. He remained but a litte while 

 about the camp, and then dashed away 

 into the forest. Perhaps there was some- 

 thing about the motionless figure that sat 

 within five or six feet of him, that aroused 

 his suspicions, or perhaps he was merely 

 too restless to stay long in one place, and 

 having taken a bite or two, felt he must 

 make explorations in some other direction. 



At all events he went, and the camp saw 

 him no more at that time, though later in 

 the day he or another of his family re- 

 turned, took a few bites of the meat and 

 then hurried off as if called by pressing 

 business. The gray jays came back again 

 when the coast was clear, and so persist- 

 ently did they attack the meat, that Yo 

 finally drove them off and threw a coat 

 over it to protect it. 



There were other birds about the camp, 

 and the jays, though the most conspicuous 

 by their size and their boldness, could not 

 monopolize the attention of the watcher. 

 The modest little juncos, birds like the 

 black snowbird of the East, now and then 

 crept out of the forest, and advancing by 

 cautious hops to the neighborhood of the 

 fire, feasted on the bread crumbs that had 

 been dropped on the ground. Feasted 

 and almost fought, for, though they seem 

 the most timid and shrinking little creatures 

 you can imagine, they have a spirit of their 

 own, and when one had found a choice bit 

 of bread, and was picking it to pieces, he 

 allowed no one of his companions to come 

 very near to him. An approach was 

 promptly met by a threatened attack, and 

 the claimant of the bread, with grimly low- 

 ered head and bristling feathers, prepared 

 to defend his rights. They never quite 

 came to blows, though once or twice war 

 seemed imminent, for the individual threat- 

 ened declined to be bullied, and promptly 

 threw himself into a defensive position; 

 but after eyeing each other fiercely for a 

 few seconds one or the other would take 

 a little hop to one side, and then the 

 other would move off, and presently the 

 ruffled feathers would be smoothed down 

 and peace would once more resume her 

 sway. 



Sometimes, from far back in the wood, 

 there would be heard dull tappings and 

 drummings, which told that the carpenters 

 among birds were about, and after a while 

 one of these dashed into camp, and alight- 



