40 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



at any distance. The bird, however, may with patience 

 be taught to talk in almost equal degree with the Magpie, 

 and somewhat in advance of the Starling. Its powers of 

 mimicry are unusually great, as it will imitate extraordinary 

 sounds very readily, and seems to take a pleasure in doing 

 so. It is singular that, like a great many other birds with 

 these peculiarities, the Jay is naturally inquisitive and 

 somewhat mischievous, and should therefore be carefully 

 watched. 



It is almost impossible to distinguish the difference 

 between male and female, their plumage being the same ; 

 possibly, as with most of this family, the female may be 

 the larger, but that is at best but a difficult test. In the 

 sunlight the plumage glistens and appears particularly 

 resplendent. 



