IMITATION AND MIMICRY. 205 



as it is in the case of the bird called the mocking- 

 bird, that these sounds are derived from imitation. 



We have elsewhere taken notice of some inter- 

 esting peculiarities in the American blue-jay (Gar- 

 rulus cristatus, BRISSON), and shall now advert to 

 what is said of its powers of imitation and mimicry. 

 " In the charming season of spring," says Wilson, 

 "when every thicket pours forth harmony, the 

 part performed by the jay always catches the ear. 

 He appears to be, among his fellow-musicians, what 

 the trumpeter is in a band, some of his notes hav- 

 ing no distant resemblance to the tones of that in- 

 strument. Thus he has the faculty of changing 

 through a great variety of modulations, according 

 to the particular humour he happens to be in. When 

 disposed for ridicule, there is scarce a bird whose 

 peculiarities of song he cannot tune his notes to. 

 When engaged in the blandishments of love, they 

 resemble the soft chatterings of a duck, and while 

 he nestles among the thick branches of the cedar, 

 are scarce heard at a few paces distance ; but no 

 sooner does he discover your approach, than he 

 sets up a sudden and vehement cry, flying off, and 

 screaming with all his might, as if he called the 

 whole feathered tribes of the neighbourhood to 

 witness some outrageous usage he had received. 

 When he hops undisturbed among the high branches 

 of the oak and hickory, they become soft and mu- 

 sical ; and his calls of the female a stranger would 

 readily mistake for the repeated creakings of an 

 ungreased wheelbarrow. All these he accompa- 

 nies with various nods, jerks, and other gesticula- 

 tions, for which the whole tribe of jays are so re- 

 -mark able. 



"He is not only bold and vociferous, but pos- 

 sesses a considerable talent for mimicry, and seems 

 to enjoy great satisfaction in mocking and teasing 

 other birds, particularly the little hawk (Falco spar- 

 verius), imitating his cry wherever he sees him, and 

 S 



