468 Practical Game Preserving. 



leading them forth to find it for themselves ; a moment's 

 absence in one instance, or a straggling weak-limbed 

 chick in the other, invariably results in a diminution of 

 the family circle. Young rabbits and youthful leverets are 

 also in the category of this bird's victims, and often a 

 whole batch of very inexperienced little conies, totally 

 unaware of the malicious intentions of the bird near at 

 hand, are quickly snapped up one after another, until but 

 one, two, or perhaps none are left for the consolation 

 of their presently returning dam. We have caught many 

 jays in spring time, when young rabbits are as plentiful 

 as they always seem to be when the corn is " just beginning 

 to get up a bit," by first catching a few of the little conies 

 and using them as baits, for the benefit of their com- 

 munity. 



There is no need to enumerate in detail the game birds, 

 &c., which fall victims to the jay's rapacity at one time 

 or another, for, without a single exception, all the game- 

 keeper's charges, whether furred or feathered, are liable 

 to be attacked and taken by these destructively-natured 

 birds. The jay, however, also consumes its share of 

 insects and moths, beetles and caterpillars, besides various 

 similar creatures of the grub description, " preferring the 

 soft, fat, and full-bodied specimens to those of a more 

 slender shape." Of the vegetable provender of this 

 bird, berries and fruits form the most considerable portion, 

 especially during autumn, and when cherry orchards offer 

 a plentiful supply of food, into which this bird " pitches " 

 with considerable vigour. Not content with the fruit 

 even, it has a most pernicious habit of stripping the 



