XLIX 



BLUE JAY; JAY-BIED 

 477. Cyanocitta cristata cristata 



A minute description of this well-known bird is un- 

 necessary. With its blue tail, tipped with white, bright 

 blue wings with black bars, and its purplish-blue back, the 

 Blue jay is most easily identified. If you do not see the 

 bird, it will proclaim to you its name from a nearby tree, 

 "Jay! Jay! D'Jay! D'Jay!" 



It has a coarse, but substantial, nest, building when 

 possible in an evergreen tree. There are from three to 

 five eggs, buff with brown markings. 



Blue Jays have a limited migratory habit, but are 

 considered permanent residents of most of the central 

 part of the United States. These birds have the habit 

 of storing acorns and grain, to which they rarely return. 



Because it has many disagreeable traits, the Blue 

 Jay is justly placed on the black list of the birds we do 

 not enjoy or encourage to be with us. (Fig. 76.) 



"D'Jay! D'Jay!" the usual noisy exclamation, is 

 frequently interrupted by an attempt to put consterna- 

 tion into the hearts of all hawk-fearing birds, by giving 

 a good imitation of the cry of the Red-tailed or other 

 Hawk a kind of scream, followed by "Smart Alec, 

 Smart Alec!" 



Blue Jays are fond of bathing. During the nesting 

 period the female acts as if she were the owner of an 

 illicit "moonshine distillery," ever on the outlook for 

 detectives on her trail. Observe her, as she noiselessly 

 and slyly approaches the nest, dropping from limb to 

 limb, until she reaches the threshold, when with no ado 

 she settles into its depths, almost out of sight. As she 

 sits in the nest a good picture can be made only when 

 the camera is pointed downward on her back. This is not 

 always possible, as the nest-site is frequently close to 

 the body of the tree, thus making it difficult to place the 

 camera in a good position. The Jay will let you picture 



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