The Zoologist— July, 1869. 1745 



Pica hudsonica {Sabine). — May reasonably be expected to occur in 

 Newfoundland, but I am inclined to think it does so only as a 

 straggler. 



Blue Jay, Cyanura cristata {Linn.) — A suninier migrant, but not 

 common. Breeds in Newfoundland, and is called the " Silken Jay" 

 by the settlers. 



Canada Jay, Perisoreus canadensis (Lew/?.) — Common, and remains 

 throughout 'the year. In some of its habits, and especially its fami- 

 liarity, this bird much reminds the English sportsman of robin red- 

 breast at home. When camping in the woods miles back in the 

 country the Canada Jay, or, as it is often called, " Whiskey Jack," 

 was ever my constant, and frequently only feathered, companion. 

 Like others of its tribe it appears very partial to raw meat for food, 

 although when in the vicinity of houses becomes almost omnivorous, 

 eating bread, fish, potatoes, &c., with an evident relish. It is said to 

 collect and store away large quantities of cranberries for winter use. 

 I have never met with an}' of these " stores," but have often noticed 

 the jays picking the berries, especially in the spring of the year where 

 the snow has disappeared in patches in the open marshes. In a slate 

 of nature I think the Canada Jay is even tamer than the robin : I re- 

 member on one occasion, particularly when deer -hunting in the 

 country, I had the hearts of three caribou hanging to the " tilt," or 

 camp, within four feet of my head, and although unable to leave the 

 "tilt" for the whole day from bad weather, the jays managed to eat 

 all the fat from the hearts, notwithstanding I continually drove them 

 away, but, like vultures and carrion crows, with every reappearance 

 their seemed a reinforcement, until at last to save my venison I had to 

 amuse m>self by firing balls at them from my rifle as they sat on and 

 picked a fine fat quarter of caribou only a iew yards distant from the 

 camp. My specimens were obtained by tying a piece of meat to the 

 pan of a rat-gin and retiring a few yards from the trap : they were in- 

 variably caught by the bill. The settlers, strange to say, cannot succeed 

 in keeping this bird alive in confinement. 



I did not meet with any of the Columbida; in Newfoundland : 

 Ectopistes migraloria {Linn.) may prove an occasional straggler 

 there. 



TeTRAOiMD^. 



Canada Grouse, or Spruce Partridge, Tetrao canadensis, Linn. — 

 A very rare and uncertain visitor from the mainland : tvyo killed, 



SECOND SEBIKS— ^VOL. IV. 2 L 



