THE WAYS OF JAYS 7 



being seen in its vicinity. He is not common in my region 

 during the summer, and, connecting this fact with his secre- 

 tive habits, I rejoiced with a bird-lover's joy, when syste- 

 matic search resulted in the discovery of a Blue Jay 's nest 

 five feet from the ground, on the south side of a young pine 

 tree. A better location from a bird-photographer's point of 

 view, the birds could not have chosen. 



The Blind and the Nest-Tree 



The surroundings affording no opportunity for conceal- 

 ment from which the birds might be observed, an artificial 

 bower of canvas, painted to resemble tree-bark, stretched 

 over a light frame and liberally draped with poison-ivy 

 vines, was erected within ten feet of the nest. 



It was on the morning of June 3, that I set up my camera 

 in this none too large or too cool shelter, with the object of 

 recording somewhat of the home life of Jays. An hour 

 passed. Occasionally a Jay's voice was heard from the 



