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great tail some 10 inches long. Strikingiy coloured in sharply contrasted masses of black 
and white. Head, neck to upper breast, back, tail, and much of wings, black, glossed 
with green on wings and tail. A conspicuous white bar on shoulders over wings. Inner 
webs of primaries, lower breast, and below, all white. 
Distinctions. Easily recognized by the very long tail and the strong black and white 
contrasts in colouring. 
Distribution. As a species the Magpie occurs in the north temperate regions of 
both the New and Old Worlds. The American form is properly a bird of the west, 
regularly coming to the central prairie provinces and occurring occasionally farther east. 
SUBSPECIES. The American Mapgie is a subspecies, under the trinomial P. p. 
hudsonia, of a species common to both New and Old Worlds, and differs from the European 
form in slight details only. This is a matter for experts. 
The Magpie is with some doubt included among the native birds of 
eastern Canada. The species is common in the far west and we have a 
number of records in the Maritime Provinces and lower Great Lakes 
region as well substantiated as is possible without specimens. In 1879 
a number of Magpies imported from England were liberated at Levis 
opposite Quebec. Some of the records may refer to descendants of these 
introduced birds and not to natives. Specimens for the determination 
of these eastern birds are greatly desired. The species is too rare to 
require economic discussion. 
477. Blue Jay. FR.—LE GEAI HUPPE. Cyanocitia cristaia. L, 11-74. Plate 
XXIV A. 
Distinctions. Well characterized by crest and colour. 
Field Marks. The predominance of blue in the general coloration, the white tail 
borders, and the crest. The flight of the Blue Jay is easily recognizable. Its numerous 
calls are distinctive, ranging from the loud raucous jay-jay, through its barn door squeak, 
to many quiet conversational chuckles. 
Nesting. Nest of twigs and rootlets 10 to 20 feet from the ground. 
Distribution. Eastern America from the borders of settlement to the gulf of Mexico. 
Breeds wherever found in Canada. 
The Blue Jay is alert, inquisitive, and mischievous. A strange noise 
in the woods or a moving figure attracts him and he steals quietly up 
to it; on discovering an enemy he flees shrieking away in exaggerated 
fright. In this way Jays have spoiled many careful stalks and caused 
great annoyance to hunters. In the autumn he is provident, and gathers 
acorns which he carefully stows away in bark crannies and like places. 
Whether he ever returns to his stores may be open to some doubt. 
Economic Status. Economically the Blue Jay occupies a doubtful 
place; in food habits it is omnivorous, eating in turn, insects, fruit, acorns, 
grain, eggs, or young birds. Undoubtedly acorns in their season form 
its staple food. It is a bird that should be discouraged about the orchard 
when other more useful birds are nesting. 
484. Canada Jay. WHISKEY JACK. MOOSE BIRD. MEAT BIRD. CAMP ROBBER. 
FR.—LE GEAI DU CANADA. Perisoreus canadensis. lL, 13. Plate XXIV B. 
Distinctions. Size; soft, neutral-grey coloration with black cap and white forehead 
are distinctive. The juvenile, rather rarely seen in early plumage, has an evenly dark 
head and neck. All have loose, fluffy, ragged plumage. 
Field Marks. Size, even grey coloration, and white forehead and face. 
Nesting. Nests of twigs and fibres, closely felted with fur and feathers into a com- 
pact deeply-cupped structure which serves as a protection to the eggs which are some- 
times incubated at a temperature of 30 below zero Fahrenheit. 
Distribution. The northern coniferous woods across the continent. 
SUBSPECIES. The Canada Jay is divided into a number of very slightly differ- 
entiated subspecies. In eastern Canada, the Eastern Canada Jay, the type form, is the 
generally distributed one, with Labrador Jay P. c. nigricapillus inhabiting Newfoundiand 
and the Ungava peninsula. 
