86 



THE JAY 



luring also some of the wood mice that had ventured 

 out on the sunny slopes of the allotment grounds. As 

 the crops were vegetable ones the less attention these 

 have paid to them by the mice, when in a young state, 

 the better." 



The voice of the Jay is against him, however. It does 

 not evoke sympathy. Montgomery wrote : 



" Thou hast a crested poll and 'scutcheoned wing 

 Fit for the herald of an eagle king, 

 But such a voice ! I would that thou could'st sing." 



And the Jay retorts : 



" My bill has rougher work, to scream with fright, 

 And then, when screaming will not do, to fight." 



The Jay is smaller than the Jackdaw. Its plumage is 

 reddish grey, the bridle wide and black ; crown nearly 

 white with dark longitudinal flecks; rump and undertail- 

 cover white ; on the wings a white spot ; tail black, with 

 pale blue cross bars. Its great beauty is due to the 

 upper wing feathers which are striped with white, black 

 and a beautiful blue. It has bright shining eyes of light 

 blue. The nest is built in trees, sometimes high, some- 

 times low, and five to nine eggs are laid, which on a 

 pale, usually greenish, ground are thickly speckled with 

 dark but delicate spots. 



The Jay as raider. 



