38 JANUARY 



all, is no worse than a jackdaw's. When you have 

 cleared the country of ugly jackdaws, say I, it will 

 be time to talk of exterminating the handsome 



jay- 



We had some difficulty in establishing jays. 

 First we tried putting their eggs under blackbirds. 

 There was not the least difficulty in getting eggs ; 

 it was quite remarkable how generous people in 

 the south showed themselves in the matter of jays' 

 eggs. One keeper in Surrey, hearing of my wants, 

 set to work, and collected about fifty ; but as he was 

 at the pains to blow them all before sending them 

 off, the consignment did not greatly assist our 

 scheme of acclimatisation. In the end, the desired 

 object was attained by the purchase of a dozen 

 young jays from Mr. Bailey of Mount Street, and 

 now our woods resound with the harsh chiding note 

 of these and their offspring. 



