CROWS, JAYS, ETC. $69 



"Jay." The birds are clever imitators, one of their favor- 

 ite pastimes being to perch near a group of chickens or 

 other birds, and then give a perfect imitation of the call of 

 the red-shouldered hawk, varied perhaps by imitating the 

 red-tailed and the sparrow hawks. The result is a scurry 

 for shelter as the jay flies away triumphantly. It delights 

 in woiTying owls and other birds, being unequaled as a 

 tease. 



Blue jays are noisy except when nesting, when they 

 exhibit the usual cunning of the crow and jay family. Co- 

 niferous trees are used as nesting sites. In early April, 

 before the foliage appears on the deciduous trees, the jay 

 cleverly builds her nest among the large limbs of the tree so 

 as to escape detection. 



The nest is of small roots and sticks, lined with root- 

 lets and grass. Four or five dark green eggs are laid. 

 The markings are drab and dark brown. Eggs from differ- 

 ent nests exhibit considerable variation. Two broods are 

 often reared in a season. 



STELLER'S JAY* 



This is an abundant and interesting cousin of the blue 

 jay, and is found along the Pacific coast from northern 

 California northward. It is a very common resident of 

 Oregon, is noisy, bold, and dashing. The nest of this bird 

 is built in firs and other trees and in bushes, ten to twenty 

 feet from the ground. It is bulky and made of large sticks 

 and twigs, generally put together with mud, and lined with 

 fine, dry grasses and hair. The eggs are three to five, pale 



