Blue and Bluish 



some of the epithets applied to this bird of exquisite plumage. 

 Emerson, however, has said in his defence he does " more good 

 than harm," alluding, no doubt, to his habit of burying nuts and 

 hard seeds in the ground, so that many a waste place is clothed 

 with trees and shrubs, thanks to his propensity and industry. 



He is mischievous as a small boy, destructive as a monkey, 

 deft at hiding as a squirrel. He is unsociable and unamiable, 

 disliking the society of other birds. His harsh screams, shrieks, 

 and most aggressive and unmusical calls seem often intended 

 maliciously to drown the songs of the sweet-voiced singers. 



From April to September, the breeding and moulting season, 

 the blue jays are almost silent, only sallying forth from the woods 

 to pillage and devour the young and eggs of their more peaceful 

 neighbors. In a bulky nest, usually placed in a tree-crotch high 

 above our heads, from four to six eggs, olive-gray with brown 

 spots, are laid and most carefully tended. 



Notwithstanding the unlovely characteristics of the blue jay, 

 we could ill spare the flash of color, like a bit of blue sky dropped 

 from above, which is so rare a tint even in our land, that we 

 number not more than three or four true blue birds, and in Eng- 

 land, it is said, there is none. 



Blue Grosbeak 



(Guiraca ccerulea) Finch family 



Length — 7 inches. About an inch larger than the English sparrow. 



Male — Deep blue, dark, and almost black on the back ; wings and 

 tail black, slightly edged with blue, and the former marked 

 with bright chestnut. Cheeks and chin black. Bill heavy 

 and bluish. 



Female — Grayish brown above, sometimes with bluish tinge on 

 head, lower back, and shoulders. Wings dark olive-brown, 

 with faint buff markings; tail same shade as wings, but with 

 bluish-gray markings. Underneath brownish cream-color, 

 the breast feathers often blue at the base. 



Range — United States, from southern New England westward to 

 the Rocky Mountains and southward into Mexico and be- 

 yond. Most common in the Southwest. Rare along the 

 Atlantic seaboard. 



Migrations — May. September. Summer resident. 



This beautiful but rather shy and solitary bird occasionally 



105 



