AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 233 



sprightly and lively, his voice capable of such infinite 

 inflections, and his beauty so great, that with us the 

 " Jay bird," as this species is commonly called, is a 

 very great favourite. Shy and cunning as this bird 

 is, his habits may be pretty closely observed at certain 

 times of the year with a little caution and manage- 

 ment. Intense curiosity and thirst for knowledge 

 appear to be the principal motives of action ; any 

 unusual sight or sound attracts the immediate atten- 

 tion of this species, and the low alarm-note of the 

 Blackbird, the chiding of a Titmouse, or the rapidly 

 repeated " pink, pink," which announces that some- 

 thing has disturbed the mind of the Chaffinch, will 

 soon bring up all the Jays within hearing. If the cause 

 of disturbance should prove to be a dog, cat, stoat, 



Interested. Inspection. 



or weasel, the Jays hop about from branch to branch, 

 with harsh and loud cries, as long as the quadruped 

 remains in the neighbourhood, but should they detect 

 a human presence, they keep quiet in the most leafy 



