10 THE O. & O. SEMI-ANNUAL. 
THES BE dae 
Cyanocitta Cristata. 
BY W. D. DOAN, LANCASTER, PA. 
This beautiful bird, the subject of our illustration, is a denizen 
chiefly of forest and heavy timbers, remote from civilization, and one 
who is nearly cosmopolitan in its distribution, being found throughout 
Eastern North America, from Florida and Texas, north to the fur 
countries. Westward, it ranges from the Atlantic Coast to the Missis- 
sippi Valley. In this section this species is a common resident ; but 
more plentiful during the spring and summer months, than during the 
cold, dreary months of winter. There is a slight thinning out during 
the last week of November, and those that remain become gregarious, 
and are found frequenting thickly covered bottom lands which are 
mostly bordered by heavy timbers. The return movement is generally 
noticed by the second week in February. 
In its natural haunts the Blue Jay is exceedingly sly and very sus- 
picious, and can only be approached with the greatest difficulty ; but 
in some localities its frequent intercourse with man has modified its 
disposition considerably, and confidence seems to have taken the 
place of distrust, which has very frequently been shown by its nesting 
sometimes in orchards and other suitable places, in close proximity to 
farm buildings. The ceremony of mating is usually accomplished 
with expedition, and soon after, the birds are at their nest-building, 
which, in this latitude, is commenced by the 25th of April: for that 
purpose some forest or orchard tree, and sometimes a low bush is 
selected ; but the latter is rarely. The nest is a strong, coarse and 
very bulky structure, and is composed chiefly of twigs and roots firm- 
ly interwoven. ‘The lining does not differ materially from rubbish 
chosen for the parts of the nest, and the old birds’ aim is evidently 
to secure as much strength as possible, regardless of appearance. 
The nests found in close proximity to human habitation differ from 
those that may be constructed in more remote places, by having a 
-larger variety of material, such as rags, twigs, stems of grasses and 
leaves, and in size it is almost equal to the Crow Blackbird’s nest. 
Both birds labor very diligently together in its construction, which 
