268 BIRDS 



From examining a dozen nests, I judge the birds lay 

 at intervals of from two to four days, yet incubation begins 

 from time of deposit of first egg. In color the eggs resem- 

 ble those of the yellow-headed blackbird or loggerhead 

 shrike. The background is pale bluish-white, but the entire 

 surface of the shell is almost completely covered with spots 

 of light brown. These prolific birds lay seven or eight eggs. 



BLUE JAY 



The jays, like the hummingbirds, are found chiefly in 

 the western and southwestern portions of North America. 

 We have but two jays inhabiting the Great Lakes region. 

 The Canada jay is the other representative. A very hand- 

 some jay inhabits the brushy sections of Florida, and is 

 known as the Florida jay. The Blue Jay is common in the 

 United States east of the Great Plains, from Florida to 

 Canada. Throughout the year it remains in most of its 

 range, though in Northern States its numbers are somewhat 

 reduced in winter. During spring and summer the jay is 

 forced to become an industrious hunter for insects for the 

 brood, and it is not so conspicuous as when out roaming the 

 country at will after the household duties are over. 



The blue jay partakes of other birds' eggs and the 

 young, and many farmers condemn its love for corn. 

 Three-fourths of the bird's food consists of vegetable mat- 

 ter. It is difficult to decide, on summing up good and bad 

 traits, whether to forgive the faults of this interesting scamp 

 or to condemn and kill it. 



The usual call or alarm note is suggestive of the word 



