CANADA JAY, 275 



Hab. — Northern New England, Michigan and Canada, northward to Arctic- 

 America. 



Nest, on the brancli of an evergreen, composed of twigs and grass, lined 

 with feathers. 



Eggs, four or five, variable, usually grayish-white, marked with yellowish- 

 brown. 



The Indian name for this bird is Wis-Ka-l^jan, which pronounced 

 by an EngKsh tongue sounds much Hke "Whiskey John." Through 

 famiharity this has become "Whiskey Jack," the name by which the 

 bird is best known in the districts he frequents. The Canada Jay is^ 

 found in high latitudes, from Labrador to the Pacific coast. It is- 

 quite common in the District of Muskoka, where it breeds and is 

 resident. I have also heard of one individual being taken at Oshawa, 

 but have no record of its having been seen farther south in Ontario. 



In the "Birds of the North- West," Dr. Coues, quoting from Mr. 

 Trippe, says : "During the warmer months the Canada Jay frequents 

 the darkest forests of spruce, occasionally flying a little way above 

 the trees. It is quite tame, coming about the mining camps to pick 

 up whatever is thrown out in the way of food, and evincing much of 

 the curiosity that is characteristic of the family. In winter its 

 supply of food is very precarious, and it is often reduced to mere skin 

 and bones. At such times it will frequently weigh no more than a 

 plump sparrow or snowbird, and undoubtedly it sometimes starves to 

 death. During the latter part of the autumn, its hoai-se croaking is 

 almost the only sound to be heard in the cold, sombi'e forests which 

 lie near the timber line." 



This species is quite common in Manitoba, and has also been 

 found in Northern Michigan and Minnesota, northward to Hudson 

 Bay and the Arctic Regions, and also in Alaska. In the west it 

 is rather less in size, and being slightly different in color also, it has 

 been created into a subspecies, under the name oifumifrons. 



In the coast region of Labrador is another form, somewhat darker 

 than the others, which has been separated and named nigricapillus.. 

 But although their names have been changed, their natures remain 

 the same. All have the habit of taking eggs and young birds from 

 the nests of other birds, and devouring them in sight of the agonized 

 parents. They become very familiar about the camps of lumbermen 

 and others who have occasion to toil in the woods. This habit is no 

 doubt to a great extent the result of hunger, which in the winter 

 time, when deep snow covers the ground, must be the greatest evil 

 with which the birds have to contend. 



