324 HABITS OF BIRDS. 



his own tribe around him, who all join in the frolic, 

 darting about the hawk, and feigning- the cries of a 

 bird sorely wounded and already under the clutches 

 of its devourer ; while others lie concealed in bushes 

 ready to second their associates in the attack. But 

 this ludicrous farce often terminates tragically. The 

 hawk singling out one of the most insolent and pro- 

 voking, sweeps upon him in an unguarded moment, 

 and offers him up a sacrifice to his hunger and 

 resentment. In an instant the tune is changed ; all 

 their buffoonery vanishes, and loud and incessant 

 screams proclaim disaster. 



" Wherever the jay has had the advantage of edu- 

 cation from man, he has not only shown himself an 

 apt scholar, but his suavity of manners seems equalled 

 only by his art and contrivances, though it must be 

 confessed that his itch for thieving keeps pace with 

 all his other acquirements. Dr. Mease, on the 

 authority of Colonel Postell, of South Carolina, in- 

 forms me that a blue jay, which was brought up in 

 the family of the latter gentleman, had all the tricks 

 and loquacity of a parrot, pilfered every thing he 

 could conveniently carry off, and hid them in holes 

 and crevices, answered to his name with great so- 

 ciability when called on, could articulate a number 

 of words pretty distinctly, and when he heard any 

 uncommon noise or loud talking, seemed impatient 

 to contribute his share to the general festivity (as he 

 probably thought it) by a display of all the oratorical 

 powers he was possessed of*." 



Though this account, however, appears to be cir- 

 cumstantially and rather minutely given, we are dis- 

 posed to consider the alleged imitations no better 

 proved than those by which our native bird, the flusher 

 (Lanius Collurio), is said to lure small birds within 

 its beat by mimicking their notes, a feat of ingenuity 

 not borne out by any observation we have been able 

 ' * Am. Oruith.i. 16. 



