322 



NESTS AND EffGS OF 



almost certainly been exaggerated. No doubt many Jays have been observed rob- 

 bing nests of other birds, but thousands have been, seen that were not so engaged. 

 In an investigation of the food of the Blue Jay 292 stomachs were examined, which 

 showed that animal matter comprised 24 per cent, and vegetable matter 76 per cent, 

 of the bird's diet. So much has been said about the nest-robbing habits of the Jay 

 that special search was made for traces of birds or birds' eggs in the stomachs, with 

 the result that shells of small birds' eggs were found in three and the remains of 

 young birds in only two stomachs. Such negative evidence is not sufficient to 

 controvert the great mass of testimony upon this point, but it shows that the habit 

 is not so prevalent as has been believed. Besides birds and their eggs, the Jay eats 

 mice, fish, salamanders, snails, and crustaceans, which altogether constitute but 

 little more than 1 per cent, of its diet. The insect food is made up of beetles, grass- 

 hoppers, caterpillars, and a few species of other orders, all noxious, except from 

 SVz per cent, of predaceous beetles. Thus something more than 19 per cent, of the 

 whole food consists of harmful insects. In August the Jay, like many other -birds, 

 turns its attention to grasshoppers, w.hich constitute nearly one-flfth of its food 

 during that month. At this time, also, most of the other noxious insects, including 

 caterpillars, are consumed, though beetles are eaten chiefly in spring. The vegetable 

 food is quite varied, but the item of most interest is grain. Com was found in 70 



477. Blue Jay (From Beal). 



stomachs, wheat in 8, and oats in 2 — all constituting 19 per cent, of the total food. 

 Corr If evidently the favorite grain, but a closer inspection of the record shows that 

 the greater part was eaten during the first five months of the year, and that very 

 little was taken after May, even in harvest time, when it is abundant. This Indi- 

 cates that most of the corn is gleaned from the fields after harvest, except what is 

 stolen from cribs or gathered in May at planting time. The Jay's favorite food is 

 mast (i. e., acorns, chestnuts, chinquapins, etc.), which was found in 158 of the 292 

 stomachs and amounted to more than 42 per cent, of the whole food. In September 

 corn formed 15 and mast 35 per cent., while in October, November and December 

 corn dropped to an almost inappreciable quantity and mast amounted to 64, 82 and 

 83 per cent., respectively. And yet in these months corn is abundant and every- 

 where easily accessible. The other elements of food consist of a few seeds and wild 



