:•«•■■•" 



• 4(12 CYANOCirTA FLORJDjyA. 



noii-coiiilncfors of heut and {■'>]<] as when dry, thon'Inrc Ihey perished. These are the dark 

 days ol' Jay life, but usually at this season the time passes pleasantly, for they have their 

 ston.'S to draw upon and they may be seen perched upon a branch holding a frozen chcst- 

 nn! in their elaws, hamuicriu^' at it bri:5'dy with their strong beaks until it is l)roken to 

 pieces when it is swallowed. On fine days they occasionally make excursions into the or- 

 eharvls in search of the eggs of insects, such as caterpillars and canker worms. Thus they 

 prove of some benefit to the husbandman but they are too great transgressors t(j lie favorites 

 as they, not only steal the farmer's produce, as related, but also rob the nests of other 

 birds, even killing the young. 



In spite of their cautious disposition, Jays are stupid about some things; f n- example, 

 I know of but few birds that are easier to capture in snairs than this species. I have never 

 found any difficulty in faking them, even in box tra|)s baited witli an ear of c(U'n. They 

 are not remarka.bly interesting as pets, as they do not licconu' tame readily, liut are not 

 especially sliy in their native state when not midested and 1 have seen them very abundant 

 in the live oakes which staml in tlie streets of JacksimviUc, Florida, often aligliting with- 

 in a few feet of the heads of the pedestrians. They also become quite familiar on the 

 i'arms in the North, especially in winter, and I know of one that was accustomed to enter 

 a, slied when the doiir was lelt o})en. lie would ho]i alcmt the lloor in' bask in the sun, 

 but was always ready 1 1 dart out whenever any one ap|)rnached. The Jays of New England 

 breed the first week of May, placing the nest in low trees, often choosing a cedar or other 

 evergreen. The Inrds idtend very idosely to the duties of incubation, and even if the fe- 

 maJe be shy at other seasons it is (lilfnndt to make her leave her eggs then. Wlien the 

 young appear lioth parents are very assiduous in guarding them. The newly Hedged nest- 

 lings may be found in the woods by tlie first of July, and the families remain in comi)a,ny 

 until the Ibllowing summer. The Jays are not usually migratory, or at best, only during 

 some of the severest seasons, wlien those from the North occasionally come as far south 

 !is Massaiduisi'tts. 



(il^NU.S III. ('V.\N()('ITTA. Till': lil'SlI .lAVS. 



'ii.\. Cm. I>i//, s/aii/ anil foniia/, ^h:irlr thiin llir h'rid irliirh h mil irrs/id. Wini/.^, shoi'l/r llwn ihr tail u'liiih is 

 tir<uhu:tril. Ci>rni(i}(h, prnjiorliiynalilij shiirhr Ihaii tltiisr of the prrcedinij (jrnus. MnrijinnI iiulcniiilions i:pt.(!luii; in ilcpfh 

 Ihi h. ii/hl of I hi- l.n I. S/ir, not lari/-. 



Tlie iircvaihng inKn- alj.jvc is liku', willi nn ashy patc-li tm the back, but they are ligliter beluw. Tlie wiiiiis are not 

 barrel I. 



CYANOCITTA PLORIDANA. 

 Florida Jay. 



Cijiinoiillo Floriiliina ljn\.. List; 1S3.S. 



IJESClllPTlON. 



Si'. Cli. I'onii, rather slender. Size, niediinn. I'.iil, rather thiek and ennieal, with the upper niandililesliijlitly eurv- 

 m\. Sternum, as .riven above. Ton'.rue, liroad, thin and hoi-ny, liifid, an 1 provided with coarse, terminal cilia wliii h extenil 

 :don<.; the sides. 



