194 BLUE JAY. 



upon him in an unguarded moment, and offers him up a sacri- 

 fice to his hunger and resentment. In an instant the tune is 

 changed; all their buffoonery vanishes, and loud and incessant 

 screams proclaim their disaster. 



Wherever the Jay has had the advantage of education from 

 man, he has not only shown himself an apt scholar, but his sua- 

 vity 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, informs me, that a Blue 

 Jay, which was brought up in the family of the latter gentle- 

 man, 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 sociability, 

 when called on; could articulate a number of words pretty dis- 

 tinctly; 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 oratorial 

 powers he was possessed of. 



Mr. Bartram relates an instance of the Jay's sagacity, worthy 

 of remark. " Having caught a Jay in the winter season," says 

 he, "I turned him loose in the green-house, and fed him with 

 "corn, (zea, maize,) the heart of which they are very fond of. 

 6 ' This grain being ripe and hard, the bird at first found a diffi- 

 "culty in breaking it, as it would start from his bill when he 

 "struck it. After looking about, and as if considering for a 

 "moment, he picked up his grain, carried and placed it close 

 " up in a corner on the shelf, between the wall and a plant-box, 

 " where being confined on three sides he soon effected his pur- 

 "pose, and continued afterwards to make use of this same 

 " practical expedient. The Jay," continues this judicious ob- 

 server, "is one of the most useful agents in the economy of 

 " nature, for disseminating forest trees, and other ruciferous and 

 " hard-seeded vegetables on which they feed. Their chief em- 

 ployment during the autumnal season is foraging to supply 

 " their winter stores. In performing this necessary duty, they 



