1 66 



THE JAY 



eating the eggs of the blackbird. Indeed, it does good by feeding 

 on worms, snails, slugs, cockchafers, beetles, insect larvae, mice and 

 voles, thus a blessing to the forester, though relieving the woods of 

 acorns and beechnuts. Where a garden is near a wood and there 

 are jays, green peas disappear, also ripe cherries and plums, some- 

 times cobnuts and filberts, and even apples are pecked and spoiled. 

 The netting of peas is a serious matter, and that of covering over 

 standard fruit trees impracticable. Shooting, therefore, is the 



FIG. 104. MUSK RAT TRAP (AMERICAN PATTERN). 



(Supplied by Mr. H. LANE, Eagle Works, Wednesfield, Staffordshire.) 



only remedy as regards gardens and fruit plantations, but even this 

 is not easy, as jays are " knowing " birds and as wary and skilful 

 in pilfering as expert thieves generally are, and requiring much 

 cuteness and patience on the part of the gunner, lying in ambush 

 being the surest way to get a good shot, as the jay, like the magpie, 

 will watch and wait, and when the way is clear take advantage. 

 The jay is difficult to trap in the open, but may be taken where 

 there is some short cover or grass, making a nest and placing in it 



