382 



HABITS OF THE JAY. 





Although distributed with tolerable regularity over the gi'eater part of England, it is 

 nowhere plentiful, seeming instinctively to seek some home far removed from those of its 

 own species. The localities which it best loves are thick woods and plantations, 

 particularl}' those where heavily foliaged trees are found. Sometimes, however, it is not 

 so careful, and I have seen it near Oxford, flitting aljout the topmost branches of tlie trees 

 in the early morning, and pecking at the beech mast with perfect unconcern, even 



though within a few hundred 

 yards of houses. In general, 

 however, the Jay is seldom seen, 

 as it is niucli afraid of human 

 beings, and conceals itself in the 

 thickest covert ou tlie slightest 

 alarm. 



The ordinary note of the Jay 

 is a rather soft cry, but the bLi-d is 

 a most adroit imitator of various 

 sounds, particularly those of a 

 harsh character. It has one esjie- 

 cial harsh scream, which is its 

 note of alarm, and senses to set 

 on the alert not only its own 

 kind, but every other bird that 

 linppens to be within hearing. 

 The si)ortsman is often baffled in 

 liis endeavours to get a shot at 

 his game by the mingled curiosity 

 and timidity of the Jay, which 

 cannot hear a strange rustling or 

 see an unaccustomed object with- 

 out sneaking silently up to inspect 

 it, and is so terribly frightened at 

 tlie sight of a man, a dog, and a 

 gun, that it dashes olf in alarm, 

 uttering its loud "squawk," which 

 indicates to every bird and beast 

 that danger is aliroad. In cap- 

 tivity the Jay soon learns to talk, 

 and even when caged displays 

 its imitative powers with con- 

 siderable success, mocking the 

 bleating of sheep, the cackling of 

 poidtry, the grunting of pigs, and 

 even the neighing of horses with 

 wonderful truth. 



The Jay, like all the crow 

 tribe, will eat animal or vegetable 

 substances with equal zest, and 

 win plunder the hoards of small 

 quadrupeds or swallow the owner 

 with perfect impartiality. Young birds are a favourite food of the Jay, which is wonder- 

 fully clever at discovering nests and devouring the fledglings. Occasionally it even feeds 

 upon birds, and has been seen to catch a full-grown thrush. Eggs also are great dainties 

 with this bird, particularly those of pheasants and partridges, so that it is ranked among 

 the "vermin" by all gamekeepers or owners of presen-es. So fond is it of eggs, that it 

 can almost invariably be enticed into a trap by means of an egg or two placed as bait, 

 and it is a curious 'fact that the Jay does not seem to be aware of the right season 



JAY. — ddrrnltts yhnuldiiiis. 



