THE JAY. 263 



"This bird is always extremely timid, when its own interest 

 or safety is solely concerned; but no sooner does its hungry 

 brood clamour for supply, than it loses all its wary character, 

 and becomes a bold and impudent thief. At this period it 

 will visit our gardens, which it rarely approaches at other 

 times, plimder them of every rsispberry, cherry, or bean, that 

 it can obtain, and will not cease from rapine as long as any of 

 the brood or the crop remains. We see all the nestlings 

 approach, and, settling near some meditated scene of plunder, 

 quietly awciit a summons to commence. A parent bird 

 from some tree, surveys the ground, then descends upon 

 the cherry, or into the rows, immediately announces a dis- 

 covery, by a low but particular call, and all the family flock 

 into the banquet, which having finished by repeated visits, 

 the old birds return to the woods, with all their chattering 

 children, and become the same wild, cautious creatures they 

 were before." 



The Blue Wilson gives the following description of the 

 Jay- Blue Jay : " This elegant bird, peculiar to North 

 America, is distinguished as a kind of beau among the 

 feathered tenants of the woods, by the brilliancy of his dress ; 

 and like most other coxcombs, makes himself still more 

 conspicuous by his loquacity, and the oddness of his tones 

 and gestures. Of all birds he is the most bitter enemy to 

 the owl. No sooner has he discovered the retreat of one 

 of these, than he calls the whole feathered fraternity to 

 his assistance, who surround the glimmering recluse, and 

 attack him from all sides, raising such a shout as may be 

 heard on a still day more than half a mile oflF. The owl 

 at length, forced to betake himself to flight, is followed by his 

 whole train of persecutors, until driven beyond the boundaries 

 of their jurisdiction. But the blue jay himself is not guiltless 

 of similar depredations as the owl and becomes in his 

 turn the very tyrant he detested, and he is sometimes attacked 

 with such spirit as to be under the nece^ity of making a 



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