AMERICAN BLUE JAY.—Cyanocorax cristdtus. 



richest and most fantastic scene I know of among the comicalities of the natural world, 

 to catch him in one of these practising humours ; he does court to his own charms with 

 such a gay and earnest enthusiasm ; he apes all the gestures and lovelorn notes of his 

 seemingly volcanic amours, and turning his head back, gazes on his own fine coat with 

 such fantastic earnest, that one can hardly resist roaring with laughter. 



So jealous is he of his sole prerogative of supervision over the interest and welfare of 

 his neighbours, that he is for ever on the look-out for all interloping stragglers. Every 

 racoon that shows his inquisitive nose is assailed with vehement clamours and angry 

 suappings of beaks, which compel him, in terror for his eyes, to return to his home. Our 

 friend Jay is said to attribute the nocturnal habits of racoons, wild cats, opossums, owls, 

 &c., to their apprehension of his valorous vigilance by daylight. Be the facts of the case 

 what they may, no one of these gentry, nor mole, nor mink, nor weasel, can make its 

 appearance without being beset by the obstreperous screams of this audacious knave. 

 Nor does he confine his operations to the defence of his foraging-ground from these 

 depredators, from whom he has little to fear of personal danger, on account of his superior 

 activity. But he even sometimes does assail the lightning-winged and lordly hawk ; 

 2.' cc 



