A BLUE CANNIBAL* 



IN his coat of light blue, trimmed with white and black, 

 bearing his crest jauntily atop of his head, the blue 

 jay presents an attractive picture. And, indeed, 

 although I myself feel that the Baltimore oriole, the 

 scarlet tanager, the ruby-throated hummingbird, and 

 many of the wood warblers carry off the palm for bril- 

 liancy of plumage, there are persons who declare that the 

 jay is the most handsomely colored bird in our temperate 

 regions. 



While the jay dons an engaging attire, not much can 

 be said in the way of eulogy for his vocal talents or 

 acquirements. Many of his calls are harsh, penetrating, 

 and even raucous. Frequently, too, he indulges in a 

 great to-do over nothing, fairly splitting your ears with 

 his noisy .cries. I have said it is a to-do over nothing, 

 though Mr. Jay may think he has the best reason in the 

 world for making a fuss. Often espying some coveted 

 prize on the ground in my back yard, instead of quietly 

 dropping down and taking it, he and his companions 

 would dash about in the trees, swing their bodies side- 

 wise and up and down in an excited way, and scream 



*Reprinted by permission from " The Evening Post," New York. 



