134 SINGING BIRDS. 



The Blue Jay is a constant inhabitant both of the wooded 

 wilderness and the vicinity of the settled farm, though more 

 familiar at the approach of winter and early in spring than at 

 any other season. These wanderings or limited migrations are 

 induced by necessity alone ; his hoards of grain, nuts, and 

 acorns either have failed or are forgotten : for, like other 

 misers, he is more assiduous to amass than to expend or en- 

 joy his stores, and the fruits of his labors very frequently either 

 devolve to the rats or squirrels, or accidentally assist in the 

 replanting of the forest. His visits at this time are not un- 

 frequent in the garden and orchard, and his usual petulant 

 address of dj'dy, Jay, Jay, and other harsh and trumpeting 

 articulations, soon make his retreat known to all in his neigh- 

 borhood. So habitual is this sentinel cry of alarm, and so ex- 

 pressive, that all the birds within call, as well as other wild 

 animals, are instantly on the alert, so that the fowler and 

 hunter become generally disappointed of their game by this 

 his garrulous and noisy propensity ; he is therefore, for his 

 petulance, frequently killed without pity or profit, as his flesh, 

 though eaten, has but little to recommend it. His more com- 

 plaisant notes, when undisturbed, though guttural and echoing, 

 are by no means unpleasant, and fall in harmoniously with the 

 cadence of the feathered choristers around him, so as to form 

 a finishing part to the general music of the grove. His ac- 

 cents of blandishment, when influenced by the softer passions, 

 are low and musical, so as to be scarcely heard beyond the 

 thick branches where he sits concealed ; but as soon as dis- 

 covered he bursts out into notes of rage and reproach, accom- 

 panying his voice by jerks and actions of temerity and defiance. 

 Indeed the Jay of Europe, with whom our beau agrees entirely 

 in habits, is so irascible and violent in his movements as some- 

 times to strangle himself in the narrow fork of a branch from 

 which he has been found suspended. Like the European spe- 

 cies, he also exhibits a great antipathy to the Owl, and by his 

 loud and savage vociferation soon brings together a noisy troop 

 of all the busy birds in the neighborhood. To this garrulous 

 attack the night wanderer has no reply but a threatening stare 



