^°'"l9i^"^] MousLEY, Birds of Hatleij, Que. 73 



49. Pica pica hudsonia (Sabine). Magpie. — Very rare accidental 

 transient; Oct. 17. Well acquainted with the Magpie in England I was 

 pleased to make its unexpected acquaintance again on the above date of 

 the present year (1915), when a pair passed in front of me and flew right 

 across the marsh, thus giving me a long uninterrupted view of them. In 

 an interesting letter received from Mr. Taverner he says " I understand 

 that many years ago some European Magpies were liberated at Levis 

 opposite Quebec, and I have always surmised that these scattered records 

 (of which we have a fair number in this end of the Dominion well supported 

 by everything but specimens) are the progeny of these bu-ds." Unfortu- 

 nately the above date was a Sunday and consequently I had no gun with 

 me as usual, otherwise I should certainly have shot an example, which 

 might have solved this most interesting question, although the European 

 bird is hardly to be distinguished from the American subspecies. 



50. Cyanocitta cristata cristata (Linnajus). Blue Jay. — ^ Common, 

 resident; rare in summer, common in spring and fall, less so in winters 

 Eggs: May 24. Evidently the Blue Jay betakes itself to very secluded 

 spots during the breeding season, as I have only succeeded so far in finding 

 one nest, in May of the present year (1915), and had never seen the bird 

 before during the months of June, July and August. It is most abundant 

 in the spring and fall, becoming scarcer during the winter months. The 

 above nest was placed thirteen feet up in a small fir tree on the borders of a 

 swampy wood, and consisted outwardly of twigs and rootlets, fined with 

 fine black rootlets only, and contained four eggs. 



51. Perisoreus canadensis canadensis (Linnajus). Canada Jay. — 

 Rare transient; Oct. 21. There is no doubt about the Canada Jay being 

 a rare bird in this district, the only example I have seen in five years is that 

 of a bird shot on the morning of the above date in the present year (1915), 

 and shown to me in the flesh the same evening. 



52. Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos (Brehm). Crow. — 

 Abundant summer visitant; March 10 to Nov. 15. Average date of arrival 

 (for five years) March 9; of departure (for three years) Nov. 8. Eggs:- 

 April 23 to May 14. In this district the favourite nesting site is usually at 

 the top of some thick fir tree, where the nest is well hidden from view. 

 Apparently there is some large roost to the northeast of Hatley, as large 

 flocks of the birds can be seen every evening during the fall wending their 

 way there for the night. I have seen a crow descend on a hen coop, seize 

 a young chick which was outside and fly off with it in its claws. 



(7^0 be concluded.) 



