Winged Vermin Habits of the Jay. 469 



trees of the bark of, we believe, the new season's wood, 

 thus doing damage to a great extent. 



Although found in nearly every district throughout the 

 kingdom, and to a considerable degree in some localities, 

 it is more definite in the choice of places which are 

 considered to be suitable haunts than is the case with 

 the magpie, and notwithstanding the fact that it will, in 

 pursuit of food, continually frequent every covert within 

 reach of its domain, it is, however, true that it has a 

 preference for certain descriptions of woods and planta- 

 tions, to which it invariably resorts at night, during stormy 

 weather, and in which its nest is constructed. The jay 

 can neither be termed a solitary nor a gregarious bird, as it 

 seems at one time to prefer the first form of life, and 

 at others to find pleasure in the company of its con- 

 geners, chiefly before, during, and after its nesting time. 

 Its tastes are inclined towards thick woods and plantations, 

 where the trees are large, high, and standing close, where 

 the foliage is dense, and deprives the place of a portion 

 if small of its sunlight. Where larch, spruce, and oak 

 trees are mingled in an irregular manner are the favourite 

 haunts of this bird, and it will be further noticed that a 

 clump of oaks near at hand, but separate from the 

 plantation, will greatly influence the jay in choosing its 

 place of resort. Further, any rough and thick coverts 

 where the bird can more easily discern anyone approaching 

 than vice versa, are also in request. 



When on the hunt for any of its ordinary descriptions 

 of food, the jay has a cunning way of working along the 

 hedge, particularly along banks with large bushes, such 



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