FAMILY 



and deserve "special mention." His blue is of the 

 ultramarine order diluted with white ; that color 

 distinguishes his upper parts ; crest conspicuous and 

 a deeper blue ; a black band crosses the breast and 

 continues upward on the sides of the neck joining on 

 the back of the head ; under parts subdued, gray-white, 

 whiter on the throat above the black band ; forehead 

 black ; wings and tail beautifully barred with black and 

 white, the intermediate light ultramarine blue grading 

 to a cold steely tone ; tail feathers broadly tipped with 

 white all except the middle pair. Female similarly 

 marked. Nest, of rootlets and twigs compactly inter- 

 woven, the finer ones serving as a lining ; the latter is 

 never composed of soft material. Egg, pale olive brown, 

 or pale olive green, plentifully sprinkled with cinnamon 

 brown. 



The Blue Jay is also a robber. He not infrequently 

 attacks other birds engaged in nest-building, drives 

 them off, and finishes the job to his own liking. The 

 following lines, taken from the Chicago Tribune, con- 

 tain more truth than poetry : 



" With twigs and strings and other things 



The Robin builded it strong, 

 And as he plaited them into shape 

 He carolled a cheerful song. 



" Why so busy?' the Jay Bird asked. 



' What are you doing, pray ? ' 

 ' I suppose/ said the Robin, ' I 'm building a nest 

 For you you blooming Jay ! ' " 



The advent of a horde of Blue Jays, about the middle 

 of July, in the vicinity of my studio in Campton, means 

 a general dispersion of all the song birds for the time 

 being. There is at once a rumpus in the old orchard, 

 and a continual flash of blue wings in the sunlight; 

 many little brown wings, too, take flight to return no 

 more. A squalling, cat-like 



J-X J-X 

 aa-) aa-J 



y y 



44 



