158 Birds Every Child Should Know 



a cousin in this sleek, bold thief, the Canada jay. 

 He is a fluffy, big, gray bird, without a crest, with 

 a white throat and forehead and black patch 

 at the back of his neck. This rascal will walk 

 alone or with his gang into your tent, steal 

 your candles, matches, venison, and collar- 

 buttons before your eyes, or help himself to 

 the fish bait while he perches on your canoe, 

 or laugh at you with an impudent ca-ca-ca from 

 the mountain ash tree where he and his friends 

 are feasting on the berries; then glide to the 

 ground to slyly pick a trap set for mink or 

 marten. Fortunate the trapper who, on his 

 return, does not find either bait gone, or g^ime 

 damaged. 



Fearless, amazingly hardy (having been 

 hatched in zero weather), mischievous and 

 clever to a maddening degree, this jay, like 

 his cousins, compels admiration, although we 

 know all three to be rogues. 



