PLATE XVII. BLUE JAY. 

 Cyanocitta cristata. 



Above light blue ; head splendidly crested ; cheeks, throat and 

 under-parts bluish white ; wings and tail a darker blue, barred with 

 black, and many of the feathers broadly tipped with white ; a black 

 band encircles the neck ; tail much rounded ; mouth, tongue, bill and 

 legs black. Length, 11.75 inches. 



A thieving, mischievous, handsome creature. It devours the eggs and young of other 

 birds, and feeds also, upon acorns, chestnuts, berries, fruit, corn, insects, caterpillars, etc. 

 Nests in trees and bushes. Much of great interest has been written about the Blue Jay ; 

 see, for example, Thoreau's SUCCESSION OF FOREST TREES ; Olive Thome Miller's A BIRD OF 

 AFFAIRS, and an amusing though unscientific chapter in Mark Twain's TRAMP ABROAD. 



Samuels says: "Its notes consist of a shrill cry like jay -jay -jay, repeated often and in 

 a high key ; a shrill whistle like wbeeo - wbeeo - wbeeo ; a hoarse rattle and an exceedingly 

 sweet, bell-like note." 



The Blue Jay is a permanent resident here. Although large flocks may be seen 

 traveling southward in the Autumn, the number of the birds does not seem to be dimin- 

 ished in our woods during Winter. The difference, in respect of domiciliation, between 



