274 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Cyanura cristata. 



more shorter than in Pennsylvania examples, while the bill is not any 

 smaller. Tlie crest is very short ; the white spaces on secondaries and tail- 

 feathers more restricted. 



Habits. The common Blue 

 Jay of North America is found 

 ti.iouiihout the continent, from 

 the Atlantic coast to the Mis- 

 souri A'alley, and from Florida 

 and Texas to tlie fur regions 

 nearly or quite to the 5Gth 

 parallel. It was found breeding 

 near Lake Winnepeg by Donald 

 Gunn. It was also observed in 

 these regions bv Sir John liich- 

 ardson. It was met with by 

 Captain Blakiston on the forks 

 of the Saskatchewan, but not 

 farther west. 



The entire family to whicli 

 this Jay belongs, and of which 

 it is a very conspicuous member, 

 is nearly cosmopcjlitttu as to distribution, and is distinguished by the 

 remarkable intelligence of all its members. Its habits are striking, peculiar, 

 and full of interest, often evincing sagacity, forethought, and intelligence 

 strongly akin to reason. These traits belong not exclusively to any one 

 species or generic subdivision, but are common to tlie whole family. 



When first met with in the wild and unexplored regions of our country, 

 the Jay appears shy and suspicious of the intruder, n' .n. Yet, curious to a 

 remarkable degree, he follows the stranger, watches all his movements, hov- 

 ers with great pertinacity about his steps, ever keeping at a res})ectful dis- 

 tance, even l^efore lie has been tauglit to bew^are of the deadly gun. After- 

 wards, as he becomes better acquainted with man, the Jay conforms his own 

 conduct to the treatment he receives. Where he is hunted in wanton sport, 

 because of brilliant plumage, or persecuted because of unjust prejudices and 

 a bad reputation not deserved, he is shy and wary, shuns, as much as possible, 

 human society, and, when the hunter intrudes into liis retreat, seems to 

 delight to follow and ainioy him, and to give the alarm to all dwellers of 

 the woods that their foe is approaching. 



In parts of the couutry\ as in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and otlier AVestern 

 States, where the Jay is ujimolested and exempt from ]iersecution, we find 

 him as familiar and confiding as any of the favored birds of the Eastern 

 States. In the groves of Iowa V^^. Allen found our Blue Jay nearly as 

 unsuspicious as a Black-cap ned T H' vise. In Illinois he speaks of them as 

 very abundant and half domestic, .uid again, in Indiana, in one of the 



