JOUKNAI. OK MAINE OKNITIIOKOGIC AI, SOCIETY. 65 



A True Story of a Pet Blue Jay. 



Hv Saka Ciiandlkr I'>STMAn, Portland. 



Our Blue Jay came to us in April, 1894. A driving snow storm 

 was in proj^ress, and he had been buffeted by the elements until he 

 fell at our door utterly exhausted and so drenched that every feather 

 clung closely to his little body. As he. dropped to the ground he 

 gave three cries so j)iercing and despairing that we sprang to our 

 feet in alarm. 



He was quickly taken up and brought into the house, and, help- 

 less and exhausted as he was, as he lay in my hand he turned upon 

 me a bright, inciuiring eye, which plainly asked what I intended to 

 do with him. 



Supposing him to be a wild bird that had been beaten down by 

 the storm, we thought to keep him until the weather should be 

 pleasant and then let him go on his way, but after his plumage had 

 become partly dried he was placed in a small cage, and he mounted 

 to the perch with such an air of being at home that it was evident 

 that he had been kept in captivity, therefore we concluded to keep 

 him for a time and find a home for him with some of our friends; 

 but after a little we discovered that we did not wish to part with 

 him, so he was named Charlie from that Blue Jay call which Frank 

 Bolles interpreted as "Yoly-'oly." A Mockingbird cage was pro- 

 vided for him, and he became a much -loved pet. 



For more than fourteen years he remained with us, then, dur- 

 ing our temporary absence, a window which he often used as an 

 outlook was left open and he escaped, leaving behind sad hearts, 

 for the sorrow we felt at his loss was not greater than that which we 

 experienced in thinking of the dangers to which he would be 

 exposed. 



When we first had our bird we did not understand how he 

 should be fed, and as he was extremely fond of all sorts of dainties, 

 and begged for them so prettily with fluttering wings and little 

 coaxing notes, he was indulged very freely, with the result that he 

 became afflicted with epileptic fits. It was most pitiful to see him 



