﻿304 Canadian Record of Science. 



time, when it is abundant. This indicates that most 

 of the corn is gleaned from the fields after harvest, 

 except what is stolen from cribs or gathered in May 

 at planting time. 



The jay's favorite food is mast {i.e., acorns, chestnuts, 

 chinquapins, etc.), which was found in 158 of the 292 

 stomachs and amounted to more than 42 per cent, of the 

 whole food. In September corn formed 15 and mast 35 

 per cent., while in October, November and December corn 

 dropped to an almost inappreciable quantity and mast 

 amounted to 64, 82 and 83 per cent., respectively. And 

 yet in these months corn is abundant and everywhere 

 easily accessible. The other elements of food consist of a 

 few seeds and wild fruits, among which grapes and 

 blackberries predominate. 



The results of the stomach examination show (1) that 

 the jay eats many noxious insects ; (2) that its habit 

 of robbing the nests of other birds is much less common 

 than has been asserted ; and (3) that it does little harm to 

 agriculture, since all but a small amount of the corn 

 eaten is waste grain. 



THE CROW. 



{Corvus americanus.) 



There are few birds so well known as the common crow, 

 and unlike most other species he does not seem to 

 decrease in numbers as the country becomes more densely 

 populated. The crow is commonly regarded as a blackleg 

 and a thief. Without the dash and brilliancy of the jay, 

 or the bold savagery of the hawk, he is accused of doing 

 more mischief than either. That he does pull up 

 sprouting corn, destroy chickens, and rob the nests of 

 small birds has been repeatedly proved. Nor are these 

 all of his sins. He is known to eat frogs, toads, 

 salamanders, and some small snakes, all harmless creatures 

 that do some good by eating insects. With so many 



