38 



Garrulus glandarius. 



Jay. 



EGG OBSERVED. 



April 26tb, 1865. 

 April 18th, 1866. 

 April 20tli, 1867. 

 April 20tli, 1869; 



1870. 



What a pity that this handsome bird comes under the 

 fated class of " Vermin " ! If it were not so our eyes 

 Avould be gladdened by the sight of its brilliant, yet ex- 

 quisitely blended colours, in every wood and tree. As it is 

 they are abundant, more so perhaps at Marlborough than 

 in most districts, as the large extent of Forest and wood 

 land affords them abundant shelter even from the ruthless 

 hand of the gamekeeper. 



During the winter of 1867 I wished to procure a nice 

 pair of jays' skins for my collection, and for that reason I 

 applied to the gamekeepers. Bitterly did I repent of this 

 step however ! Within a few days I had received no less 

 -than thirty seven recently-killed specimens from one keeper 

 .alone, all shot in the West Woods. 



The nest is abundant in the West Woods, in the beech 

 .trees of the Forest, at Rabley, and in most of the thick high 

 hedgerows. 



