91) 



on stivtcheil and (luivering winy. tluMi up ajiain and poisinsi'. until he 

 was nearly out of sight. The climax Avas a straight, swift dive, with 

 wings closed. toAvard the earth. He did not open his wings luitil he 

 was within a few feet of the ground, when he settled lightly down 

 and Avent quietly to feeding as if nothing had happened. Four young 

 were seen just ready to leave the nest ^lay 10. 190:i. G. G. Williamson 

 obtained an adult female and a young male May 29, 1886. 

 96. [477] (JijaniK-lttai-nxtat<i (Limi. ). Blue Jay.* Fig. 16. 



Abundant resident: sometimes less numerous in winter. 



Jays Avere nearly all mated March 8, 1903, and a pair Avas observed 

 mating February 10. 1901. This pair began a nest but abandoned it 

 Avhen about one-fourth completed, February 22. N. B. Myers obserA'ed 

 them nestbuilding March 3. 1899. More usual dates are: Nestbuilding. 

 March 17. '03; March 22, "02. a half-completed nest Avas fotmrt; nest 

 completed March 26, 1902. and 1903; three pairs nestbuilding April 1. 

 '01; nests Avith three eggs were found April 15 and 17, 1903 (W. L. M.). 

 The former AAas l)etAveen tAvo rafters in a corncrib and Avas built partly 

 of mud (C G. L.I. A Blue Jay Avas seen sitting on unhatched eggs May 

 16. 1903. 



"As spring approaches tliey become very vocal, uttering man.v calls, 

 some very prett.v notes, varying from loud to Ioav. Evidentl.v some 

 of the latter are intended solely for one female to hear. * * * With 

 us the season of song begins early in March •■' * * as early as Marcli 

 8. * * * With it comes pairing time. Avhich I have knoAvn them to 

 continue until April 'ly (A. W. Butlei#. As is above stated the Blue 

 Jay has a great numl)er of calls, many of Avhich are principally used 

 during the mating season. But the AA'riter has never heard a Jay give 

 a call during that season that has not been heard during ever.v other 

 month from September to June at some time during the past four .vears. 

 Careful observations and a separate series of nuti's have been made Avith 

 the above conclusion as a result. 



On April 28 and 29. 19'!;;. at a time nf very abundant nocturnal 

 migration, man.v Ja.vs Aveie seen migrating by day. They tlcAv steadily 

 and iiuite high (about 2nH ft.i. in a northeast direction. The liight 

 of the 29tli Avas exactly similar to that of the 2Sth: no Jays Avere 

 CA-en 200 yards from the path. Whether the Hi.ght kept up all night 

 is a ((uestion. Folhnving are a few groups observed <ni eacli day and the 

 approximate time elapsing betAveen their passage of a given puint: April 



