iG8 



HISTORY OI 



The Chatterer also, which is a native of German j, may he 

 placed in this rank ; and is somewhat less than the former. It 

 is variegated with a beautiful mixture of colours ; red, ash-col- 

 our, chestnut, and yellow ; but what distinguishes it from all 



his squalling voice often alarms the deer, to the disappointment and morti- 

 fication of the himtor, — one of whom informed me that he made it a point, 

 In summer, to kill every jay he could meet with. In the charming season 

 of spring, when every thicket pours forth harmony, the part performed by 

 the jay always catches the ear. He appears to be among his felloiv mu- 

 sicians what the trimipeter is in a band, some of his notes having no distant 

 resemblance to the tones of that instrument. These lie has the faculty ol 

 changing through a great variety of modulations, according to the particu- 

 lar humour he happens to be in. When disposed for ridicule, there is scarce 

 a bird whose peculiarities of song he cannot tune his notes to. Wlien en. 

 gaged in the blandishments of love, they resemble the soft ehatterings of a 

 duck, and, wliile he nestles among the thick branches of tlie cedar, are 

 Bcarce heard at a few paces distance : but he no sooner discovers your ap- 

 proach than he sets up a vehement outcry, flying off, and screaming with 

 all his might, as if he called the whole feathered tribe of the ueigh- 

 boiu-hood to witness some outrageous visage he had received. When he 

 hops undisturbed among the high branches of the oak and hickory, they 

 become soft and musical ; and liis calls for the female a stranger would 

 mistake for the repeated screakings of an ungreased wheel-barrow. All 

 these he accompanies with various nods, and jerks, and other gesticulations, 

 for which the whole tribe of jays are so remarkable, that, with some other 

 peculiarities, they might have very well justified the great Swedish natu- 

 ralist in forming them into a separate genus by themselves. 



" The blue jay builds a large nest, frequently in the cedar, sometimes on an 

 apple-tree, lines it with dry fibrous roots, and lays five eggs of a dull olive, 

 spotted with brown. The male is paiticularly careful of not being heard 

 near the place, making his visits as silently and secretly as possible. His 

 favourite food is chestuuts, acorns, and Indian corn. He occasionally 

 feeds on bugs and caterpillars, and sometimes pays a plundering visit to the 

 orchard, cherry rows, and potato patch ; and has been kno^vn, in times of 

 scarcity, to venture into the barn, through openings between the weather 

 boards. In these cases he is extremely active and silent, and, if surprised 

 in the fact, makes his escape with precipitation, but \vithout noise, as it 

 conscious of his criminality. 



" Of all birds he is the most bitter enemy to the owl. No sooner has he 

 discovered the retreat of one of these, than he summons the whole feathered 

 fraternity to liis assistance, who surround the glimmering solitaire, and 

 attack him from all sides, raising such a shout as may be heard, in a still 

 day, more than half a mile otf. When, in my hunting excursions, I have 

 passed near this scene of tumult, I have imagined to myself that I heard 

 tlie insulting party venting their respective charges with all the virulence 

 ol .1 Billingsgate mob ; the owl, meanwhile, retiu-ning every compliment 

 « ith abroad oggling stare. The war becomes louder and loudt»r, and the 

 owl at length, forced to betake himself to flight, is fullowed by his whoie 

 Irnlu of persecutors, until driven beyond the boundaries of their jiu-isdictiou. 



