on the Yucatan Jay.



119



then flew to the nest, quickly fed the sitting-hen, and left her imme¬

diately—there was no longer the return of food which I have

described.


Later in the day any remaining doubt was dispelled by the

cock covering the eggs the moment the hen left the nest.


The cock’s behaviour on the nest would have been amusing if

it had not ended in disaster. Even when unaware that he was being

watched he was in a continuous state of fidgets — obviously painfully

bored by his duties — yawning, gaping, fidgeting, and turning round

and round sometimes, especially if watched; and with the object of

deceiving one as to his occupation, he would preen himself violently

or peck at the edge of the box holding his nest, until I sometimes

feared he would tackle the nest itself. I was always relieved when I

knew the hen was sitting again.


The Occipital Blue Pie incubates for sixteen days, and using

this figure for my calculation, I expected the Blue and Black

Pies to hatch on June 19th.


On the morning of this eventful day I was out early, and

approaching the aviary quietly was surprised to see both birds off

the nest. Although I approached very quietly, they both saw me

instantly; instead of coming to the wires as he usually did, the cock

remained sitting close to the hen. Both birds might have been

stuffed specimens, perfectly motionless, not even the flicker of an

eyelid, with a glassy, steady stare in my direction which still further

suggested the taxidermist. I was prepared to sit through the

performance, but at the end of fully five minutes I began to get

tired, and in truth to feel a little uncanny, so I approached the birds ;

the result was an immediate transformation scene — pandemonium

from both birds and a rush to the nest by the cock—but not before I

had caught a glimpse of the four eggs.


To this day I have not guessed why the birds behaved thus

but I suspect that the hatching of at least one chick was imminent,

and that they were particularly anxious in consequence that my

suspicions should not be aroused.


On the evening of that day both birds were certainly feeding

young ; all food was collected by the cock, who shared it with the

hen on the nest. She then raised herself slightly in order to let the



