566 THE BIRDS OF MANITOBA THOMPSON. 



from Red River Settlement iu Smithsonian Institution ; I noticed the 

 absence of it on the route between York Factory and Lake Winnipeg 

 (Blakiston). . 



160. Perisoreus canadensis. Canada Jay. Whisky Jack. Wis-Ka-tjan. 



Common resident in wooded sections, especially among evergreens. 

 Winnipeg: Summer resident; tolerably common (Hine). Red River 

 Valley: Common resident; they breed here (Manitoba) in the month 

 of March (Hunter). Resident locally at Portage la Prairie; very scarce 

 (Nash). Very abundant in all the wooded country examined in 1881 

 (Macoun). "Whisky Jack numerous on the Scrub Oak Ridge," near 

 Dauphin Lake, October 9 (Hind, 1858). Carbcrry: Common resident; 

 breeds in the spruce woods to the south; Duck Mountain; Two Creeks, 

 on Upper Assiniboiue; Rat Portage, abundant (Thompson). Shell 

 River: 1885; winter visitant (Calcutt). Severn House (Murray). Com- 

 mon at Carletou (Blakiston). 



On October 13, 1883, at Two Creeks, west side of Assiniboine, 1 was 

 awakened in the morning by a Whisky-Jack screaming close to my 

 head. One or two of these birds have been in attendance at each of 

 our camps since we came to this comparatively wooded region, to feast 

 on the camp scraps, which we have always been careful to put where 

 the birds could easily get them. 



On June 11, 1884, at Duck Mountain, I found the young Whisky- 

 Johns following their parents through the woods. One of these, which 

 I shot, was all over of a very dark bluish gray, tinged on the wings and 

 tail with a glaucous shade, which at once reminded me of the relation- 

 ship existing between this bird and the Blue Jay. The noises which 

 this family made were curious and varied. I have long ago learnt to 

 ascribe to this species any unknown squeaks or wails that are heard iu 

 a spruce wood. 



Novembers: Whisky-Johns came as usual to our camp fire to day. 

 They helped themselves to scraps but a few feet from me, and ulti- 

 mately one alighted on the pot stick and took off a scrap of meat that 

 1 left there, although it was but a foot above a hot clear fire. 



While moose hunting on December G we had crawled close to a herd, 

 when suddenly the loud screaming of the Whisky-Jack was heard, and 

 before we could get a glimpse of them the moose had sought safety in 

 flight. 



During the numberless times that I have camped in the winter woods 

 of the northwest, I have hardly ever failed to have the Wiskachon for 

 a companion. Sometimes I have been awakened in the morning by the 

 melancholy wailing of the bird a few inches from my head. Many a 

 time I have fed it with scraps placed in such situations that its courage 

 would be sorely tried before it could secure the dainties. Once I laid a 

 piece of meat on the snow between myself and my companion. After one 

 or two approaches the bird rushed in and seized the morsel. Then I laid 



