BIRDS OF KANSAS 83 



notes of rage and reproach, accompanying his voice by 

 jerks and actions of temerity and defiance. . . . 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 garru- 

 lous attack the night wanderer has no reply but a threaten- 

 ing stare of indifference, and, as soon as opportunity 

 offers, he quietly slips from his slandering company. Ad- 

 vantage, in some countries, is taken of this dislike for the 

 purpose of catching birds ; thus the Owl being let out of a 

 box, sometimes makes a hoot, which instantly assembles 

 a motley group, who are then caught by liming the neigh- 

 boring twigs on which they perch. In this gossip the Jay 

 and Crow are always sure to take a part, if within sight 

 or hearing of the call, and are thus caught or destroyed at 

 will. The common Jay is even fond of imitating the 

 harsh voice of the Owl and the noisy Kestril. I have also 

 heard the Blue Jay mock, with a taunting accent, the 

 ' Ke-oo, ke-oo,' or quailing of the Red-shouldered Hawk. 

 Wilson likewise heard him take singular satisfaction in 

 teasing and mocking the ljtle.. American Sparrow Hawk, 

 and imposing upon him by the pretended plaints of a 

 wounded bird, in which frolic several would appear to 

 join, until their sport sometimes ended in sudden conster- 

 nation, by the Hawk, justly enough, pouncing on one of 

 them as his legitimate and devoted prey. 



" His talent for mimicry, when domesticated, is like- 

 wise so far capable of improvement as to enable him to 

 imitate human speech, articulating words with some dis- 

 tinctness ; and on hearing voices, like a parrot, he would 

 endeavor to contribute his important share to the tumult. 



