52



after an absence of an hour or more. He commences by throw¬

ing his head upwards, his neck becoming extremely thin and

almost snake-like in appearance, and his whole body compressed,

whilst the wings are drooped, and the tail beautifully spread

into a broad fan, making it look three times its normal size. As

the bird commences these movements, he utters a quick low

warble, moving the head from side to side, the bill pointing

immediate^ upwards. Gradually the warble becomes louder

and faster until it would seem as if the notes could not come

fast enough, whilst at the same time the bird runs rapidly back¬

wards and forwards in front of me, the tail spread and quivering

as he moves, the performance lasting about lialf-a-minute. This

undoubtedly would be his manner of attracting his wife (Y).


My bird has learnt to whistle a short impromptu tune

from me, which he will pipe out at any time of the day or night

if he even hears my voice in the distance. At times he will

fasten himself by his bill o>n to my hand and throw himself

apparently into a great rage, not suffering me to touch anything

in the room, and occasionally perching on my head with the

hopes of depriving me of my brains ; at least it feels like that! 1


If let out of his cage at breakfast time, he wall fly on to

the table and trip rapidly amongst the dishes, piping all the

time, and quite ready to seize your pat of butter! A most

charming bird. But this latter propensity in him may have

altered your opinion l



ON THE JAY AS A CAGE-BIRD.


B3^ Percy W. Farmborough, F.Z.S.


The Jay, so far as my experience has taught me, is a

most intelligent and interesting cage-bird, provided the cage be

sufficiently large. An acquaintance of mine, when I told him

in the course of a general conversation that I had a Jay, said

“ What, have you got one of those filthy birds ? I had one, but

‘ never no more.’ Why, do you know it is the dirtiest bird there

is 1 it is perfectly impossible to keep it clean ; we had it from a

relation in the country as a young bird ; we fed it on bread and

milk, and kept it in a nice cage which the wife cleaned out twice

a week, and yet, in spits of all our attention and care, it became

such a ‘stinker’ we had to give it away. I’ll let you have the



(b) This is much the same position as is assumed by the Blue Robin- ( Sialia

sialis) after pairing.—A. G. B.



