274 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Cyantira crlstaia. 



iiioi'o shorter than in Pennsylvania examples, wliile the bill is not any 

 smaller. The crest is very short ; the white spaces on secondaries and tail- 

 feathers more restricted. 



Habits. The connnon Blue 

 Jay of >«orth America is found 

 throii^liout tiie continent, from 

 the Atlantic coast to the Mis- 

 souri A'alley, and from Florida 

 and Te.xas to tlie fur regions 

 nearly or q\iite to the oOth 

 parallel. It was found Ijreeding 

 near Lake Wimiepeg by Donald 

 Gunn. It was also observed in 

 these regions by Sir John llich- 

 ardson. It was met with by 

 Captain Ulakistou on the forks 

 of the Saskatchewan, but not 

 farther west. 



The entire family to which 

 this Jay belongs, and of which 

 it is a \ery cons]iicuous member, 

 is nearly cosmopolitan as to distribution, and is distinguished by the 

 remarkable intelligence oi all its members. Its habits are striking, jx'culiar, 

 and full of interest, often evincing sagacity, forethought, and intelligence 

 strongly akin to reason. These traits belong not exclusively to any one 

 species or geiu'ric subdivision, but are common to the whole family. 



When first met with in the wild and unex]tlored regions of our country, 

 the Jay ajipears shy and su.spicious of the intruder, man. Yet, curious to a 

 remarkable degree, lie follows tlie stranger, watches all his movements, hov- 

 ers with great pertinacity about his steps, ever keejnng at a resi)ectful dis- 

 tance, even before he lias been taught to beware of the deadly gun. After- 

 wards, as he becomes l)etter acipiainted with man, the Jay conforms his own 

 conduct to the treatment he receives. Where he is hunted in wanton sport, 

 because of brilliant plumage, or persecuted because of unjust prejudices and 

 n bad rejiutation not deserved, he is shy and wary, shuns, as mucli as jHjssible, 

 human society, and, wlien the hunter intrudes into his retreat, seems to 

 deliglit to follow and annoy him, and to give the alarm to all dwellers of 

 the woods that their foe is approaching. 



In parts of the country, as in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and otlicr Western 

 States, where the Jay is unmolested and exenijjt from jiersecution, we find 

 him as familiar and confiding as any of the favored birds ol' the Eastern 

 States. In the groves of Iowa Mr. Allen found our lUue Jay nearly as 

 unsuspicious as a I51ack-capi)ed Titmouse. In Illinois he speaks of them as 

 very aljundant and half domestic. And again, in Indiana, in one of the 



