From Fox's Earth 



the crow family. The design, therefore, is meant 

 to deceive or puzzle those of its own kind, and 

 quick-witted as itself. One magpie would be sure 

 to find its way into another magpie's nest. The 

 chevaux de frise may be raised against the 

 squirrel a noted pilferer whose fur would catch 

 on the thorns. Of all this the bird may know 

 nothing. It may be but the interpretation of 

 those who look on. The very size of the nest 

 would challenge attention and raid. A simpler 

 explanation may be found in the restlessness, or 

 bizarre tastes of the builder. 



Second of the gay crows is the jay ; with 

 plumage soft as an owl to brush through among 

 the thick branches, and bluish toned to be lost 

 in the blue woodland shadows. It is a very Puck 

 of the shades ; a most lively imp ; its chatter now 

 here, now yonder. Were there no jay, how much 

 would one be worth for the great woodland cage ? 



But jays are thieves. The coverts are the 

 areas of mischief. In Sutherlandshire they are 

 kept down for the harm they do ; the policy 

 is liberal there. Elsewhere they are killed. 

 Pheasants are not worth the price. Many woods, 

 once lively, are silent, save for the jarring screech 

 of the tame pheasant, which has no longer any 

 wild jay to fear. After a careful watch for years 

 over the bird life of the east coast and Perthshire, 

 the late Colonel Drummond Hay reported that 

 the jay was rapidly becoming scarce through 



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