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fright. In this way Jays have spoiled many careful stalks and caused 

 great annoyance to hunters. In the autumn he is provident, and gathers 

 acorns which he carefully stows away in bark crannies and like places. 

 Whether he ever returns to his stores may be open to some doubt. 



Economic Status. Economically the Blue Jay occupies a doubtful 

 place; in food habits it is omnivorous, eating in turn, insects, fruit, acorns, 

 grain, eggs, or young birds. Undoubtedly acorns in their season form 

 its staple food. It is a bird that should be discouraged about the orchard 

 when other more useful birds are nesting. 



Genus — Perisoreus. Canada Jays. 



484. Canada Jay. whisky jack, moose bird, meat bird, camp robber, 

 fr. — le geai dtj Canada. Perisoreus canadensis. L, 13. Plate XXIV B. 



Distinctions. Size; soft, neutral-grey coloration with black cap and white forehead 

 are distinctive. The juvenile, rather rarely seen in early plumage, has an evenly dark 

 head and neck. All have loose, fluffy, ragged plumage. 



Field Marks. Size, even grey coloration, and white forehead and face. 



Nesting. Nests of twigs and fibres, closely felted with fur and feathers into a com- 

 pact deeply-cupped structure that serves as a protection to the eggs which are some- 

 times incubated at a temperature of 30 below zero Fahrenheit. 



Distribution. The northern coniferous woods across the continent. 



SUBSPECIES. The Canada Jay is divided into a number of very slightly differ- 

 entiated subspecies. In eastern Canada, the Eastern Canada Jay, the type form, is the 

 generally distributed one, with Labrador Jay P. c. nigricapillus inhabiting Newfoundland 

 and New Quebec. 



The Canada Jay has most of the characteristics of the Blue Jay in 

 an exaggerated form. Every camper in the northern woods knows Whisky 

 Jack. No sooner is a new camp fire lighted than it appears, looking for 

 waste scraps. The offal from dressed game is eagerly sought and hardly 

 has the sound of the rifle shot died away before the Whisky Jack is on hand 

 and expectant. Vocally the bird has all sorts of surprises for the un- 

 initiated. In fact, in its proper habitat any bird sound that cannot be 

 referred to any other possible species may be tentatively attributed to 

 the Canada Jay. 



Economic Status. A bird of the unbroken forests, and only rarely 

 seen in populated areas. Its status is probably very similar to that of 

 the Blue Jay, but its retired habitat removes it from any conflict with the 

 agriculturist. 



Subfamily — Corvinae. Crows. 



The Crows form a well-marked subfamily of remarkably similar 

 appearance. They are common almost everywhere and Plate XXV A 

 is sufficient description. The European Rook belongs to this division. 



Genus — Corvus. Ravens and Crows. 



486. Raven, fr. — le corbeatt. Corvus corax. L, 22. Like the Crow (Plate 

 XXV A) but larger. 



Distinctions. The Raven is in general appearance a very large Crow. The most 

 obvious distinction is the long-pointed shape of the feathers on the throat, each lying 

 distinct on the other and not softly blended together as in the Crow. 



