BLUE OR METALLIC BLUE 493 



requisite seems to be necessary for their existence in 

 other ways than for drinking. Early every morning 

 every adult Jay takes a cold bath, the colder the better ; 

 but the water must be clear. A tremendous splashing 

 is followed by a long, careful preening of the feathers, 

 which frequently occupies fifteen minutes or longer. 

 Long, close watching lias led ine to believe that, except 

 where there are young in the nest to be fed, this toilet is 

 made before any hunting is done for breakfast. 



The male assists in the nest-building, but not in 

 the incubation. The latter requires fourteen days. The 

 mother during the brooding time plunges down to the 

 water once or twice a day, returning to her eggs with 

 feathers still damp, fusses about as if turning them before 

 settling down upon them, and in a moment rises up and 

 fusses again. This may be only for her own greater 

 comfort, but I have wondered whether the moisture was 

 necessary for the eggs. As soon as they hatch she ceases 

 to bathe in this way, and, devoting her time to obtaining 

 food, becomes dishevelled and rusty-looking. 



One of the first lessons the young Jays learn is to love 

 the water. It requires some coaxing for the first splash, 

 but they seem to take to their bath as do little ducks, 

 and to find it just as necessary as food. 



492. PINON JAY. — Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus. 



Family : The Crows, Jays, Magpies, etc. 



Length: 10.00-11.75. 



Adults : Entire plumage grayish blue, brighter on head ; throat bright 

 blue, with white streaks ; head not crested ; bill cylindrical. 



