22



On Jays.



biscuit, fruit, etc., concealing portions of their food in various corners

of an aviary, just as in wild life they will store away acorns or nuts

until needed for consumption.


A pair of Yucatan Jays, which I have had for some three

years or more, refuse to allow any other bird to remain in peace in

their aviary, and, much to my distress, murdered the female of a pair

of North American Blue Jays, and so mauled the male that I only

removed him in time to save his life. Yet the Blue Jays could fly

much more swiftly than their Yucatan cousins, and were in splendid

condition ; but the Yucatan Jays persevered in their bullying, never

leaving them alone until they finally overpowered them. The Blue

Jays seemed to have no idea of turning upon their attackers or of

resisting the onslaughts in any way, in spite of their superior

activity and equality in size. And these Yucatan Jays, after having

lived in peace with a pair of Golden Pheasants, set upon them too

one fine day, dashing and swooping at their heads until they also

had to be removed to more tranquil quarters. These Yucatan Jays

are extremely devoted to each other; a true pair in magnificent

condition, resembling small blue and black Magpies rather than

Jays, with their longish tails.


So it will be understood that any aviculturist who wishes to

keep Jays of any species must be very careful as to what other birds

are put in the same aviary, since in the case of my Yucatan Jays it

means no other birds except dead sparrows !


Whilst on the subject, we might mention the Long-tailed

Blue Jay of Mexico, which Mr. C. William Beebe describes as the

grandest of all its race. In “ Two Bird-lovers in Mexico ” he

wrote: “ Occasionally a tumultuous flock of Long-tailed Crested

Blue Jays, or Magpie Jays, measuring ever two feet from head to

tail, burst down the canyon ; twenty or thirty brilliant blue and

white forms, graceful in every motion, with tall, recurved, fan-like

crests, and tails so long and plume-like that the feathers undulate

behind them as they fly. In cry and action they are thoroughly

Jay-like, and in curiosity they equal any member of their family.

Quietly hidden under thick brush, I often looked forward to an

interesting hour’s watching of the wild life, when the sharp eyes of.

one of these inquisitive birds would spy me out and put an end to alL



