THE CARRIOX CROW, THE JAY. 255 



and in its attack on its prey is bold and ferocious. 

 England breeds more of this species than any other 

 country in Europe. In the 24th of Henry VIII. they 

 AY ere so numerous, that they were considered as a nuisance 

 worthy of i^arliamentary redress ; and an Act was passed 

 for their destruction, in which rooks and choughs were 

 included. Every hamlet was to provide crow nets for 

 ten years, and all the inhabitants, during that space, 

 were obliged to assemble to consult of the proper means 

 for their destruction. It lays the same number of eggs 

 as the raven, and of the same colour ; immediately 

 after deserting their young they go in pairs. The crow 

 weighs about twenty ounces ; its length is about eighteen 

 inches ; its breadth, two feet two inches. The sin of 

 this bird against game is similar to that of the magpie, 

 and from his being a considerably stronger bird he is a 

 more formidable enemy. It may always be distinguished 

 from the rook by a black whisker on each side of his 

 bill. 



The jay is one of the most beautiful of the British 

 birds. The weight is between six and seven inches, the 

 length thirteen inches. The forehead is white streaked 

 with black ; the head covered with long feathers, which 

 it can erect at pleasure into the form of a crest ; the 

 whole neck, back, breast, bell}^, and covert feathers of 

 the wing are faint purple, dashed with grey. The 

 greater covert feathers of the wings are most beautifully 

 barred with a lively blue, black and white ; the rest are 

 black, the rump is white. 



Jays build chiefly in woods, making their nests of 

 sticks, fibres of roots, and tender twigs ; and lay five or 

 six eggs of the size of a pigeon's, cinereous olive, marked 

 with pale brown. The young keep with the old ones till 



