482 AVES— JAY. 



bearing" no distant resemblance to the tones of that instrument. These he 

 has the faculty of changing through a great variety of modulations. When 

 disposed for ridicule, there is scarcely a bird Avhose peculiarities of song he 

 cannot tune his notes to. When engaged in the blandishments of love, they 

 resemble the soft chatterings of a duck, and are scarce heard at some paces 

 distant; but no sooner does he discover your approach, than he sets up a 

 sudden and vehement outcry, flying off and screaming with all his might. 

 His notes, a stranger might readily mistake for the repeated creakings of an 

 ungreased wheelbarrow. All these he accompanies with various nodi, jerks, 

 and other gesticulations, for which the whole tribe of jays are so remarki- 

 ble. 



The blue jay builds a large nest on a cedar or apple tree. His favorite 

 food is chesnuts, acorns, and Indian corn. He sometimes feeds on bugs and 

 caterpillars, and often plunders orchards, cherry rows, and potato patches. 

 He spreads alarm and sorrow around him, by robbing the nests of other 

 birds ; sucking the eggs, and frequently devouring the young. In times 

 of great extremity, he will devour any animal substance that comes in his 

 way. 



Of all birds, he is the most bitter enemy to the owl. No sooner has he 

 discovered the retreat of one of these, than he summons the whole feathered 

 fraternity to his assistance, who surround the glimmering soZi^aire, and attack 

 him from all sides, raising such a shout as may be heard half a mile off; 

 the owl meanwhile returning every compliment with a broad goggling stare. 

 The war becomes louder and louder, and the owl, at length forced to betake 

 himself to flight, is followed by the whole train of his impudent persecutors, 

 until driven beyond their jurisdiction. The jay is not only bold and vocife- 

 rous, but possesses considerable talent for mimicry, and seems to enjoy great 

 satisfaction in mocking and teazing other birds, particularly the sparrow- 

 hawk, imitating his cry whenever he sees him, and squealing out as if 

 caught. This soon brings a number of his tribe around him, who all join 

 m the frolic, darting about the hawk, and feigning the cries of a bird sorely 

 wounded ; but this ludicrous farce often ends tragically. The hawk sing- 

 ling out one of the most insolent and provoking, sweeps upon him in an 

 unguarded moment, and offers him up a sacrifice to his hunger and resent- 

 ment. In an instant the tune is changed ; all their buffoonry vanishes, and 

 loud and incessant screams proclaim their disaster. 



A blue jay which was brought up in the family of a gentleman in South 

 Carolina, had all the tricks und loquacity of a parrot ; pilfered every thing 

 he could conveniently carry oT, and hid theni in holes and crevices ; answered 

 to his name with great sociability when called on, could articulate a number 

 of words pretty distinctly: and when he heard any uncommon noise or loud 

 talking, seemed impatient to contribute to the general festivity, by a display 

 of all the oratorical powers he was possessed of. 



