104 The Birds of Albany County 



In the cold season he lives on rotten apples, frozen berries, 

 and acorns, that he may dig out from under the snow. In 

 the vernal time he is so shy and wary that, when seen, he 

 appears more like a ghost of some past Autumn than a real 

 bird interested in plain household duties. But should the 

 intruder approach his nest, both he and his mate forget all 

 prudence, cunning, and every trick of the woodland that they 

 know, and become bunches of feathered frenzy. 



The notes of the Jay in Fall and Winter are invariably 

 harsh, but during the love-season the male has a low, sweet, 

 flute-like call, which is often modulated into a beautiful song. 

 Jays kept in cages have been known to whistle airs and to 

 imitate perfectly the mewing of a cat, the barking of a dog, 

 and the crying of a baby. But the Jay is in his glory only 

 when abroad in the Autumn woods — on the lookout for man 

 and his gun. 



Family Alaudidse 



Prairie Horned Lark. — Otocoris alpeslris pratkola. 



7.25 



Rare Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Throat yellow; pointed tufts of feathers on 

 sides of crown, extending backward; broken, black band 

 across upper breast; lores and ear-coverts black; upper 

 parts light, bufry-brown, verging to black and forming 

 wavy lines; under parts buffy-white. 



This bird of the Mississippi Valley has extended its range 

 and is now seen regularly in Albany County, though more 



