Es 
103 Mr. Peabody on the 
household so naturally as often to occasion much 
perplexity and confusion. 
The blue jay breeds generally in the United 
States. Here it makes a coarse nest of twigs and 
fibrous roots, on some forest or orchard tree. "The 
eggs are four or five, of a dull olive, spotted with 
brown. 
The favorite food of the blue jay consists of 
chestnuts, acorns and Indian corn. It always breaks 
the corn; and for this purpose holds it between its 
fect, and hammers it with its bill. But almost every 
thing eatable, even potatoes, sometimes are included 
in its bill of fare, and it should not be omitted, that 
they render service by destroying insects and cater- 
pillars in great numbers. 
The Buacx-cap '"TrrwovsEe, Parus atricapillus, 
is better known by the name of Chicadee, an imi- 
tation of its note in winter, when it is exploring the 
trees in all directions, to find insects and their gr bs 
or eggs, which latter form its favorite food. By their 
labors in this way they are of eminent service, pat 
ticularly in keeping down the numbers of the can- 
ker-worm, a pest which human ingenuity is wholly 
unable to reach. When these are wanting, they 
subsist on various seeds, holding them in the claws, 
and picking them open with the bill. They ofien 
come near houses also, in search of small bits of 
meat, or the crumbs which are swept out at the 
= door. They seem perfectly indifferent to the chang? 
of seasons, moving about gaily in the severest day; 
but they give the spring, when it returns, a Warm 
