96 THE JAT. 



Habitat. The Jay is found in forests, both in mountainous 

 and level countries, but especially in woods where coniferous 

 are mixed with other trees. In the house it must be confined 

 in a large wire cage, to which the shape of a tower or any 

 other may be given at pleasure. 



Food. In a wild state it lives on acorns and beech mast, 

 and when these fail, on various insects, worms, and berries. 

 It is very destructive in the cherry orchard. In confinement 

 it soon becomes accustomed to bran soaked in milk, but will 

 eat also bread, curds, meat, and anything that comes to table. 

 It is particularly fond of acorns and nuts. It must be kept 

 very clean, as it is apt to dirty its feathers and spoil its appear- 

 ance. The best food for it is, however, wheat alone, as in this 

 case its excrements are neither so soft, nor so foetid, as other- 

 wise ; on this diet it will live many years. It requires an 

 abundant supply of fresh water both for drinking and bathing. 



Breeding. The Jay builds its nest in beeches, oaks, and fir 

 trees, and lays six or seven ashen grey eggs, covered with small 

 dark brown spots. If the young birds are to be taught to speak, 

 they should be taken from the nest when fourteen days old, 

 and fed with curds, bread, meat, &c. They are easily reared 

 and domesticated. The old birds are very difficult to tame ; 

 they conceal themselves at the sight of any one, and will 

 sooner fast the whole day than reappear. 



Mode of Taking. "Whoever wishes to catch old birds, will 

 find the following method the best : In autumn, choose, in a 

 spot frequented by these birds, a fir or pine, which stands five 

 or six paces from any other tree ; cut from this all the super- 

 fluous branches, leaving only sufficient to form a sort of ladder, 

 and dock these to the length of two, to two and a half feet ; 

 let these branches, which should extend from about ten feet 

 from the ground, to six feet from the summit of the tree, be 

 covered with limed twigs ; under the tree a small hut lightly 

 roofed with brushwood is to be built, capable of holding as 

 many persons as are desirous to share in the sport. On this is 

 placed a living or dead Owl, or an Owl made of clay, or even 

 a hareskin will do, so that it is attached to a string by which 

 it can be moved. To attract the Jays, a wooden whistle is 

 necessary, having a bit of cherry-tree rind inserted in the 

 notch, and covered with another piece of the same the cry of 

 the Owl is thus imitated ; the Jays ; its enemies, flock together 



