BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
253 
Plate XLIIL 
CYANOCITTA CRI.STATA, (Linn.) Strickl. 
Blue Jay. 
This abundant, beautiful and familiar bird is a resident of the eastern 
half of North America, from the Atlantic west to Kansas, Eastern Nebraska 
and Dakota, and from Florida and Texas on the south to the 56th parallel 
of north latitude. Wherever met with it breeds in greater or less num- 
bers, according as its presence is welcomed or rejected by the imperious 
lords of creation, and food is readily or with difficulty obtained. 
Few species show more striking peculiarities of conduct, and none 
scarcely exhibit as much sagacity and intelligence. Within its natural 
haunts it is exceedingly shy and suspicious, and is hardly approachable. 
Frequent intercourse with man, however, has, in some sections, modified 
its disposition, and, as a necessary consequence, confidence has taken the 
place of distrust. This is substantiated by its tendency to nest in places 
contiguous to the dwellings of man. In Eastern Pennsylvania, a decade 
ago, it was quite a common occurrence to find a score of birds nesting in 
a square mile of territory, but, at the present time, the collector considers 
himself very fortunate if he encounters one-fifth of this number within the 
same area, and these only in localities whose solitude is seldom unbroken 
by the tread of human footsteps. In the wooded regions of Iowa, Mr. 
Allen found this species quite as trustful as the Black-capped Titmouse, 
and in Illinois, reduced to a semi-domesticated condition. Within the 
former State a pair of birds were found nidificating under the window of 
a house, in a lilac-bush, and this, too, in one of the most prominent and 
frequented streets of the town of Richmond. 
