6 BLJE JAY. 
The Blue Jays seldom associate in any considerable numbers, except 
in the months of September and October, when they hover about, in 
scattered parties of from forty to fifty, visiting the oaks, in search of 
their favorite acorns. At this season, they are less shy than usual, and 
keep chattering to each other in a variety of strange and querulous 
notes. I have counted fifty-three, but never more, at one time; and 
these generally following each other in straggling irregularity from 
one range of woods to another. Yet we are told by the learned Dr. 
Latham, — and his statement has been copied into many respectable 
European publications, — that the Blue Jays of North America “often 
unite into flocks of twenty thousand at least! which, alighting on a 
field of ten or twelve acres, soon lay waste the whole.” * If this were 
really so, these birds would justly deserve the character he gives them, 
of being the most destructive species in America. But I will venture 
the assertion, that the tribe Oriolus pheniceus, or Red-winged Black- 
birds, in the environs of the River Delaware alone, devour and destroy 
more Indian corn than the whole Blue Jays of North America. As to 
their assembling in such immense multitudes, it may be sufficient to 
observe, that a‘flock of Blue Jays of twenty thousand would be as 
extraordinary an appearance in America, as the same number of Mag- 
pies or Cuckoos would be in Britain. 
It has been frequently said, that numbers of birds are common to. 
the United States and Europe; at present, however, I am not certain 
of many. Comparing the best descriptions and delineations of the 
European ones with those of our native birds, said to be of the same 
species, either the former are very erroneous, or the difference of 
plumage and habits ‘in the latter justifies us in considering a great 
proportion of them to be really distinct species. Be this, however, as 
it may, the Blue Jay appears to belong exclusively to North America. 
I cannot find it mentioned by any writer or traveller among the birds 
of Guiana, Brazil, or any other part of South America. It is equally 
unknown in Africa. In Europe, and even in the eastern parts of Asia, 
it is never seen in its wild state. To ascertain the exact limits of its 
native regions, would be difficult. These, it is highly probable, will be 
found to be bounded by the extremities of the temperate zone. Dr. 
Latham has indeed asserted, that the Blue Jay of America is not found 
farther north than the town of Albany.t This, however, is a mistake. 
They are common in the Eastern States, and are mentioned by Dr. Bel- 
knap in his enumeration of the birds of New Hampshire.t They are also 
natives of Newfoundland. I myself have seen them in Upper Canada. 
Blue Jays and Yellow-Birds were found by Mr. M’Kenzie, when on his 
journey across the continent, at the head waters of the Unjigah, or 
Peace River, in N. lat. 54°, W. lon. 121°, on the west side of the great 
range of Stony Mountains.§ Steller, who, in 1741, accompanied 
Captain Behring in his expedition for the discovery of the north-west 
coast of America, and who wrote the journal of the voyage, relates, 
that he himself went on shore near Cape St. Elias, in N. lat. 58° 28, 
* Synopsis of Birds, vol.i. p. 387. See also Encyclopedia Britannica, art 
Dorvus. : : 
+ Synopsis, vol. i. p. 387. 
t History of New Hampshire, vol. iii. p. 163. 
§ Voyages from Montreal, &c. p. 216, 4to., London, 1801. 
