LAND BIRDS. 413 
in every part of the state 
during winter as well as 
summer, yet in many sec- 
tions there is a well marked 
migration, thousands pass- 
ing southward in Septem- 
ber and October and north- 
ward again in May. At 
Port Huron Mr. Hazelwood 
states that a laree flight 
starts about May first and 
lasts all through the month, 
thousands passing north. 
It is possible that the 
individuals which remain 
with us through winter 
have come from places 
farther north and that the 
s 5 : Tig. 98. Blue Jay. 
birds which nest in any one Photograph from mounted specimen. 
locality move farther south ROH ue)? 
in winter. They frequent all kinds of timber and seem to have a special 
hiking for orchards and the vicinity of towns and villages. In this respect 
they differ widely from the Blue Jays of the eastern states, which avoid 
populous districts and are inclined to be shy and retiring. 
On the College campus the Blue Jay is one of our most familiar birds. 
The nest is placed in apple trees, shade trees, either deciduous or evergreen, 
often within reach of the hand; the birds show almost no fear of human 
beings, and in defense of their nests will often strike a person on the head 
or even swoop down and peck a cat or dog. During winter they live 
largely upon scraps furnished by the residents, but whenever the snow is 
not too deep they hunt for acorns and other hidden stores which are buried 
in the ground. 
Nesting may begin very early, but eggs are rarely laid before the first 
of May. We have repeatedly seen birds repairing old nests and starting 
new ones in March, and on one occasion a pair worked several days on a 
nest in the middle of February, but we have never seen young out of the 
nest before June first, and although but one brood seems to be reared, we 
have occasionally seen young unable to fly during the first week in July, 
Old birds feeding four young just out of the nest were found on July 15, 
1903. On July 31, 1907, we examined a nest near the College which con- 
tained a single egg and two young, possibly three or four days old. This 
of course was a second brood. On the same day an adult Jay was seen 
feeding a full grown young one which was following her about and clamoring 
for more; and even on August 18, 1907, old Jays were seen feeding full 
rown young. 
: ee eight nests containing fresh eggs, found in Kalamazoo county 
by the late Dr. Westnedge, the earliest was found May 5, 1888, and the latest 
May 31, 1886. The greater number of nests were found between May 10 
and 25. The eggs vary greatly in color, the ground color being pea-green, 
olive-green, buff, and even eream-color, more or less heavily spotted with 
brownand lavender of various shades. They average about 1.10 by .81 
inches. 
