Winged Vermin Character of the Jay. 471 



which is, no doubt, the case, but as its extraordinary 

 notes are so continuous, shrill, and rasping, one would 

 find it rather difficult to instance the soft cry, which is 

 said to be the natural noise of an unnatural bird, and, 

 as far as our experience goes, we would call it one of 

 the most harshly voiced birds of a, by no means, dulcet 

 toned family, always ready to screech out a warning 

 of danger, whether such be at hand or not, and at all 

 times a most egotistically loquacious feathered varmint. 

 As a recent magazine writer most excellently puts it : 

 "The jay is one of the most impertinent scolds, garrulous 

 chatterers, mischievous thieves, and shameless robbers to be 

 found among birds. It is," he quaintly remarks, "devoid 

 of even the least semblance of a conscience ; hence it 

 is a perfect type of total depravity on the wing. Being 

 cunning, vigilant, and unscrupulous, it will dare almost 

 anything a bird may, and descend to any depth of 

 infamy that the most villanous human being could imagine. 

 I have known it to devour the eggs and young of 

 finches, sparrows, and other weak birds, and even attempt 

 to treat the parents in the same manner. It appears to 

 actually destroy nests out of mere wantonness, and when 

 it cannot eat the eggs it pitches them on the ground. It 

 attacks hares and squirrels caught in traps, and tries 

 to kill them by pecking out their eyes ; and a flock of 

 them will often spend the greater portion of a day in 

 jeering at and worrying some wretched bird that cannot 

 escape them, or in roving about a hole in a tree in 

 which a squirrel has sought refuge. They assail every 

 feathered creature less in size than an eagle, and ' mobs ' 



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