166 CYANOCITTA FLORID ANA. 



approach them quite closely, but when one or two are shot the survivors instantly disap- 

 pear. Then it is very difficult to catch sight of them, for they are very expert in conceal- 

 ing themselves, or rather they are expert in keeping a safe distance between themselves 

 and their enemy. They will glide through the bushes with remarkable rapidity, never 

 once showing themselves, or if they have an open space to cross dart over it, not in flocks, 

 but singly, and, plunging into the next thicket, they will be at once lost to view. It 

 requires considerable tact to obtain more than three or four out of one community the same 

 day, the best way being to conceal oneself and, by imitating their cries, attract them. 

 They are very inquisitive and, when bent upon investigating any object, will forget their 

 usual caution and venture quite near, muttering in a low tone to their companions who 

 will answer and they will converse in a similar manner to that practiced by the Blue 

 Jays. 



They are of quite a compassionate disposition for, when one of their companions is 

 wounded, they will evince by their frantic movements and cries the utmost sympathy for 

 its misfortune. At one time when I had disabled some Parakeets, several Jays evidently 

 attracted by their cries, gathered around and uttered a singular harsh note which I had 

 never heard before. Shortly after, as I was looking for Ducks in some small ponds near a 

 plantation, not far from Lake Biersford, my attention was attracted by hearing this partic- 

 ular grating cry which was repeated several times. Looking in the direction from which 

 the sound came I was surprised to see a Florida Jay clinging to the flanks of a cow. As 

 this was to me a new feature in the history of these birds, I anxiously watched the pair for 

 further developments. After a moment the Jay jumped upon a branch near but almost 

 instantly alighted upon the side of the animal and appeared to be picking something from 

 her skin. This was evidently agreeable to the cow, for she stretched out her head in a 

 way peculiar to these quadrupeds when they are being caressed by their companions. 

 The bird maintained its position by grasping the shaggy hair with its feet and in this 

 way moved completely under its large friend. Wishing to obtain a closer view of this 

 procedure, 1 approached, when the cow which was one of these half wild animals found in 

 Florida, perceived me and started away upon the ran, brushing the bird off in her rapid pas- 

 sage through the bushes. It alighted on a small tree when I shot it and, upon examining 

 the contents of its stomach, found that it was filled with ticks or jiggers which infest the 

 skin of all quadrupeds in this section of Florida. Thus the apparently strange companion- 

 ship of the two animals was explained and it occurred to me that, as the Jay was probably 

 accustomed to associate with deer for a similar purpose, the loud cry which I heard was 

 intended as a note of warning to its friend for the bird was aware of my presence, but 

 the cow was not sufficiently well posted to understand it as she was, in a measure, domestica- 

 ted whereas the wilder animals being always exceedingly wary, would have comprehended 

 at once that the Jay perceived an enemy. I afterwards saw some others similarly engaged, 

 so concluded that it was a regular habit. 



The Florida Jays breed in the scrub in communities, and I have seen many of their 

 nests in the winter but was not fortunate enough to obtain one with eggs. They lay 

 quite late in the season, about the first of May, and at that time are very assiduous in 



