108 THE BLUE JAY. 



breast, and under parts are white ; the bill, and a ring 

 about the neck are black, and the tail, and some of 

 the wing feathers are barred with the same colour. 

 On the head there is a high crest of purplish blue fea- 

 thers, which the bird can raise, or depress at pleasure. 



Where is this bird found ? 



The Blue Jay is found in most parts of North 

 America, from Canada to Florida. 



What is the food of this bird ? 



This bird lives chiefly on chesnuts, acorns, ard in- 

 sects, but sometimes eats such flesh as he can find, 

 and in times of scarcity, kills small birds for his own 

 use. He is also very fond of the eggs of other birds, 

 which he steals when he can find them. 



The Blue Jay is among the most beautiful, as well 

 as active and noisy birds of our forests. He is almost 

 every where to be found, and go when you will among 

 the woods, particularly in the fall of the year, you 

 may be sure, that he will force himself on your ac- 

 quaintance. To the sportsman this bird is often 

 the most troublesome creature imaginable, scream- 

 ing out and alarming his game, just at the mo- 

 ment when he is ready to fire upon it. Many a 

 sportsman has been placed in a most awkward and 

 provoking condition by such interference. Perhaps 

 he has been half a mile around, and waded up to his 

 knees through the mud, to get within gun-shot of a 

 flock of ducks ; and just at the moment when he 

 thinks to accomplish his object, he happens to see a 

 Blue Jay sitting still and quiet over his head. He 

 then knows that his labour is lost, for the bird on see- 

 ing him instantly squalls out, and away goes his game. 



