108 BLUE JAY 



said to be more destructive to the eggs and nestlings 

 of other birds than are the Common Crows. About 

 the Smithsonian they have been seen picking young 

 English Sparrows out of their nests. They build in 

 the tops of pine trees, rather higher than other Crows. 



Blue Jay: Cyanocitta cristata. 



Length about 12 inches. 



Upper parts and crest grayish-blue; wings and fan-shaped 

 tail bright blue, barred with black and patched with white. 



Under parts grayish-white, a black collar extending up 

 across the back of the head. 



' Resident (rather rare) all the year; common in migra- 

 tions. 



The Blue Jay is so large and handsome and noisy 

 that one need not hunt him with an opera glass nor 

 puzzle over his identity. His shrill voice at once 

 attracts attention, and the high crest, black collar, and 

 barred wings and tail are all conspicuous marks. 

 Among his many calls and cries one suggests his own 

 name, jay, jay, another a creaking, cart-wheel. 



The Jay is uncommon about Washington, which is 

 not to be altogether regretted, -for he is a great dis- 

 turber of the peace in Birdland. Out in Maryland, 

 when we hear a commotion among the woodland 

 birds, we are pretty sure that a Jay or Crow is at the 

 bottom of the trouble, and are more likely to hear the 

 tantalizing scream of the Blue Jay as he flies off than 

 the contemptuous caw of the black cannibal. Both 

 these birds are nest-robbers, though ornithologists 

 say the Jay is not so bad as his reputation, as few 

 remains of eggs or nestlings have been found in the 

 stomachs examined; so it may be concluded that he 

 is more mischievous than dangerous. In watching 



