OUR FRIENDS, THE BIRDS. 23 
“We are much obliged to him,”’ said Miss Sweet. 
“He seems to be quite common here, and, as Laura 
suggests, he makes a pretty picture, giving to our 
northern landscapes the only coloring of bird life that 
they possess after the snows begin to fall. The Car- 
dinal Grosbeak returns very early, as also the purple 
Grackle. 
‘These three make a bright picture when they 
come about the door-yard on a snowy March morning, 
the Cardinal with his scarlet coat, the Jay in his suit of 
blue, and the yellow-eyed Grackle dressed in purplish 
brown with head of iridescent green. 
‘To the Jay’s habit of burying nuts in the ground, 
we owe many of our fine forest trees. He buries more 
than he ever digs up. I once saw a Jay carrying away 
pumpkin-seeds that were drying in the sun, and plac- 
ing them in crevices of the fence, he covered them 
carefully with bits of moss. 
“He utters some harsh notes, and others that have 
a bell-like melody.” 
Laura had told her teacher of a story her aunt 
wrote for her about some Blue Jays in their garden, 
and Miss Sweet asked her to bring it to school and 
read it. It is entitled: 
