34 NATURE IN ACADIE. 



utter a note that had more than a slight resemblance 

 to that of another songster, and I am therefore per- 

 sistently incredulous with those who detect in its song 

 the borrowed notes of other birds, inasmuch as I 

 maintain, that such resemblance is more accidental 

 than real. 



There is another species of jay found in Nova Scotia, 

 but much less frequently than the last-mentioned. It 

 is the Canada jay — also known as the " moose-bird," 

 " whisky-John," &c. This jay is a resident species, but 

 is apparently not at all common in the greater part of 

 the province, and certainly not so in the neighbourhood 

 of Halifax. The bird is about the size of the blue jay, 

 but of much more sober plumage, having the upper 

 parts of a leaden-grey tint — with the exception of the 

 crown, which is blackish — and the under parts dirty 

 white, the tail being long, cuneate, and tipped with dull 

 white. The whole plumage is long, soft, and loose, and 

 no doubt forms an ample protection against the severity 

 of the Canadian winter. 



