I50 



is ill a sad state of mind, having missed a newly 

 hatched nestling from its home, in the stumps of au 

 old willow. 



Wild Duck quack merrily, except one old drake, 

 who is swimming sadly alone, awaiting his wife, who 

 has not yet hatched her late brood, causing the lonely 

 drake envious thoughts as he watches Mrs. Moorhen 

 and her handsome family cross the pond. 



Occasionally a couple of Screech Owls will mew 

 to each other, exactly like cats, and add to the many 

 and varied sounds. 



Pheasants call. Doves and Pigeons coo, fish 

 jump, and above all midges bite, how then can any 

 one say woods are silent. 



motes on the MilO Xife ot the 

 3ubabitaiU5 of our Hviaries- 



[Our notes this month are compiled exclusively from "Bird Lore" 

 (exceptingf the two last, from this year's issues) the official organ of 

 the Audubon Societies of America. They will I think be found of 

 much interest though thej- treat of birds not commonly kept.— Ed.] 



The Feeding Habits of the Blue Jay. The Blue Jay 

 is always with us summer or wiuter. lu the latter seasou he 

 frequeuted the corn cribs of the farmers, and would come 

 familiarly into the neighbourhood of dwellings. As a boy I 

 liked the sociable fellow in winter, but in the summer the Jay 

 is hated by all the other birds and I could not help sharing in 

 their feeling. At this season he is a sly and ferocious robber 

 of eggs and young birds ; and I have never seen the birds 

 gather in screeching flocks against any of their enemies, as I 

 have seen and heard them with the Jay. He seemed to have a 

 special greed for the young of the Baltimore Oriole, but this 

 robber is not particular in his choice. All the birds hated him, 

 and he preyed upon the eggs and young of all. 



John Hutchings, Litchfield, Conn. 



