264 CORVID^E. 



falls in its way, yet it does not subsist entirely upon 

 animal food, but also upon acorns and various other wild 

 fruits. The prevailing fashion among ladies of wearing 

 in their hats the wings of ornamental birds, has given a 

 stimulus to the ardour with which Jays are sought out. 

 Nevertheless, owing to their cautious and wary habits, there 

 are few wooded districts in which they are not more or 

 less numerous. Their jarring unconnected note, which 

 characterizes them at all seasons, is in spring and summer 

 varied by their song proper, in which I have never been 

 able to detect anything more melodious than an accurate 

 imitation of the noise made by sawyers at work, though 

 Montagu states that "it will, sometimes, in the spring 

 utter a sort of song in a soft and pleasing manner, but 

 so low as not to be heard at any distance ; and at intervals 

 introduces the bleating of a lamb, mewing of a cat, the 

 note of a Kite or Buzzard, hooting of an Owl, or even 

 neighing of a horse. These imitations are so exact, even 

 in a natural wild state, that we have frequently been 

 deceived." The Jay generally builds its nest in a wood, 

 either in the top of a low tree, or against the trunk of a 

 lofty one, employing as material small sticks, roots, and 

 dry grass, and lays five eggs. There seems to be a 

 difference of opinion as to the sociability of the family 

 party after the young are fledged, some writers stating 

 that they separate by mutual consent, and that each 

 shifts for itself; others, that the young brood remains 

 with the old birds all the winter. For my own part, I 

 scarcely recollect ever having seen a solitary Jay, or to 

 have heard a note which was not immediately responded 

 to by another bird of the same species, the inference from 

 which is that, though not gregarious, they are at least 

 social. 



When domesticated, the Jay displays considerable in- 

 telligence ; it is capable of attachment, and learns to 

 distinguish the hand and voice of its benefactor, accom- 



