The Audubon Societies 



247 



to any tree. What I needed was a teacher, someone to organize, direct, and guide (not 

 stuff) my observations. 



The next notable Blue Jay experience that I recall was when I had a class on a field- 

 trip. We went to a field to watch some Purple Grackles. One of the Grackles flew to a 

 large elm tree, carrying a white grub which he had excavated from the ground. Just as 

 the Grackle landed, a Blue Jay flew down, snatched the grub, and flew to another 

 limb, where it proceeded to beat the worm against the tree. When this juicy morsel had 

 been devoured, the Jay flew again, this time to where its nest was located. This whole 

 picture was run off in about two minutes. The incident showed the thieving instincts 

 and "cheek" of the bird, but at the same time his fondness for grubs. We had his character 

 in a nutshell. 



The Blue Jay is also a big tease, at times a bully. The house across the street has a 

 picket fence along the side of the lawn. One day in the fall we saw a cat sitting peace- 

 fully on the upper ledge of the fence. Suddenly, two Blue Jays appeared on the scene. 



A CANADA JAYLCALLER 

 Photographed by Mr. Wm. G. Vinal 



They flew back of the cat and perched three or four feet away, from time to time swoop- 

 ing down at it, being perhaps within a foot above it. The starting-point was a maple 

 tree that shaded the fence. Now and then the birds would call jay-jay-jay. The whole 

 performance seemed to be a game, and was seen at two different times and several months 

 apart. 



In September, 19 16, I went on a trip to New Brunswick. It was a 'camera hunt,' 

 which is much more fun than shooting with a gun. The cruise led twenty-four miles 

 from the nearest house and settlement, right into the woods on the headwaters of the 

 Miramichi. Our party found quarters at an old abandoned lumber camp. On a fishing- 

 ing-trip up the Little Dungavon one day, we cooked our noon meal at the junction of 

 two streams. From our cornmeal allowance we had made some bannock. It was con- 

 sidered rather valuable, since we had 'toted' our provisions on our backs, carrying enough 



