BLUE JAY. 195 



" drop abundance of seed in their flight over fields, hedges, and 

 " by-fences, where they alight to deposit them in the post holes, 

 " &c. It is remarkable what numbers of young trees rise up in 

 " fields and pastures after a wet winter and spring. These birds 

 " alone are capable, in a few years time, to replant all the cleared 

 "lands."* 



The Blue Jays seldom associate in any considerable numbers, 

 except in the months of September and October, when they 

 hover about in scattered parties of from forty to fifty, visiting the 

 oaks, in search of their favourite acorns. At this season they 

 are less shy than usual; and keep chattering to each other in a 

 variety of strange and querulous notes. I have counted fifty -three, 

 but never more, at one time; and these generally following each 

 other in straggling irregularity from one range of woods to 

 another. Yet we are told by the learned Dr. Latham, and his 

 statement has been copied into many respectable European 

 publications, that the Blue Jays of North America " often unite 

 "into flocks of twenty thousand at least! which alighting on a 

 field of ten or twelve acres, soon lay waste the whole, "t If this 

 were really so, these birds would justly deserve the character he 

 gives them, of being the most destructive species in America. But 

 I will venture the assertion, that the tribe Oriolus phceniceus, 

 or red-winged Blackbirds, in the environs of the river Delaware 

 alone, devour and destroy more Indian corn than the whole 

 Blue Jays of North America. As to their assembling in such 

 immense multitudes, it may be sufficient to observe, that a flock 

 of Blue Jays of twenty thousand, would be as extraordinary an 

 appearance in America, as the same number of Magpies or Cuc- 

 koos would be in Britain. 



It has been frequently said, that numbers of birds are com- 

 mon to the United States and Europe; at present, however, I 

 am not certain of many. Comparing the best descriptions and 

 delineations of the European ones with those of our native 



* Letter of Mr. William Bartram to the Author. 



f Synopsis of Birds, vol. i, p. 387. See also Encyclopedia Britannica, art. 

 Corvus. 



