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 whose 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 nods, jerks, 
and other gesticulations, for which the whole tribe of jays are so remarka- 
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 solitaire, 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 jayis 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 
in 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 hima 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 and loquacity of a parrot; pilfered every thing 
he could conveniently carry off, and hid them 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. 
