BLUE JAY. Ill 



which was built up against the wall of the room, 

 which formed one side. Close up to the roof 

 they picked a hole through the plastering, and it 

 was amusing to see them indulge their favorite 

 propensity. The surplus of their food, and every- 

 thing else which they did not immediately want, 

 they put into this hole. This would not profit 

 them much for their winter's hoard, but it might 

 be serviceable to the rats or mice, for it went 

 down probably to the cellar. 



FOOD. They are hardy, and easily kept in a 

 cage, and are not at all choice of their food, for 

 they will eat almost anything. I kept them in 

 fine plumage on meal and milk, and a bit of beef, 

 either raw or cooked. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEXES. The male of 

 this bird has the upper parts of a light purplish 

 blue, with a fine large crest on the crown of the 

 head ; the wings and tail are barred with black, 

 and tipped with white, and are of a beautiful 

 purplish blue. There is a band of black round 

 the neck, and the lower parts are of a brownish 

 white. The female has the crest much smaller ; 

 the black, grayish, and the blue is lighter and 

 duller. 



