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CANADA JAY. 



CoRVus Canadensis, Linn. 



PLATE CCCCXIX. Young. 



I HAVE been induced to give a figure of the young of the Canada 

 Jay simply because my friend Mr Swainson has formed of it a new 

 species, under the name of Garrulm hrachyrhynchus. The account given 

 of this alleged species, at page 296 of the second part of the Fauna Bo- 

 reali- Americana, is as follows : — " The only specimen brought home of 

 the Short-billed Jay was killed on the roof of the dwelling-house at 

 Fort Franklin. Its general appearance and manners resemble those of 

 the Canada Jay or Whisky-Jack so strongly, that we did not recognise 

 it as a distinct species, and consequently did not ascertain whether it 

 completely replaces the Canadian one in high latitudes, or whether both 

 exist in the same localities." The description of the habits of the 

 Canada Jay or " Whisky-Jack," in the same work, may here be re- 

 ferred to : — 



" This inelegant but familiar Jay inhabits the woody districts from 

 latitude 65° to Canada, and in the winter time makes its appearance in 

 the northern section of the United States. Scarcely has the winter 

 traveller in the Fur Countries chosen a suitable place of repose in the 

 forest, cleared away the snow, lighted his fire, and prepared his bi- 

 vouac, when the Whisky-Jack pays him a visit, and boldly descends 

 into the circle to pick up any crumbs of frozen fish or morsels of pem- 

 mican that have escaped the mouths of the hungry and weary sledge- 

 dogs. This confidence compensates for the want of many of those qua- 

 lities which endear others of the feathered tribes to man. There is 

 nothing pleasing in the voice, plumage, form, or attitudes of the 

 Whisky-Jack ; but it is the only inhabitant of those silent and path- 

 less forests which, trusting in the generosity of man, fearlessly ap- 

 proaches him ; and its visits were, therefore, always hailed by us with 

 satisfaction. It is a constant attendant at the fur-posts and fishing- 

 stations, and becomes so tame in winter as to eat from the hand; yet 

 it is impatient of confinement, and soon pines away if deprived of li- 

 berty. It hops actively from branch to branch, but, when at rest, sits 



