BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 



2 37 



the bird " is very tame at times, — have seen it in the center of a ring of people 

 surrounding it at a distance of perhaps fifteen feet. Is less tame as the season 

 advances. Have never seen it elsewhere than on Great Hill, Haverhill, where I 

 have watched it for the past four years." 



On October 26th, 1899, Mr. R. H. Howe, Jr., shot a male at Ipswich of 

 which he says : " Although nearest praticola this specimen seems almost inter- 

 mediate between that race and arcnicola, but this may be merely a case of indi- 

 vidual variation." 1 



195 [477] Cyanocitta cristata (Linn.). 

 Blue Jay. 



Common permanent resident. 



Eggs : May 24 to June 15. 



During the migrations in May and September, this bird is most abundant, 

 and is rarely seen near the shore at Ipswich except at these times. I once 

 found, in October, a Blue Jay pecking violently at a Downy Woodpecker which 

 was nearly dead, being much bruised and bloody about the neck and head. The 

 Blue Jay is indeed a handsome rascal. 



196 [484] Perisoreus canadensis (Linn.). 

 Canada Jay. 



Accidental visitor from the north. 



There is only one record 2 of this bird for Essex County : a bird taken at 

 Salem on October 25th, 1878, by Lorenzo A. Smith. The specimen is now in 

 the Peabody Academy. Howe and Allen give only two other records for the 

 State: one seen by Mr. Maynard at Newtonville, in 1875, the other shot at 

 VVoburn on October 17th, 1889, by Mr. F. B. Winship. 



1 R. H. Howe, Jr., and G. M. Allen : The Birds of Massachusetts, p. 81, 1901 ; also R. H. Howe, 

 Jr. : Auk, vol. 17, p. 175, 1900. 



2 Wm. Brewster, ed. : Minot's Land-birds and Game-birds of New England, p. 474, 1895. 



