BLUE JAY. 5 
which, in a state of nature, he would have no hesitation in making a 
meal of. x : 
He is not only bold and vociferous, but possesses a considerable 
talent for mimicry, and seems to. enjoy great satisfaction in mocking 
and teasing other birds, particnlarly the Little Hawk, (. sparverius,) 
imitating his cry wherever he sees him, and squealing out as if caught; 
this soon brings a number of his own tribe around him, who all join in 
the frolic, darting about the Hawk, and feigning the cries of a bird 
sorely wounded, and already under the clutches of its devourer ; while 
others lie concealed in bushes, ready to second their associates in the 
attack. But this ludicrous farce often terminates tragically. The 
Hawk, singling out one of the most insolent and provoking, sweeps 
upon him in an unguarded moment, and offers him up a sacrifice to 
his hunger-and resentment. In an instant the tune is changed; all 
their buffoonery vanishes, and Joud and incessant screams proclaim 
their disaster. 
Wherever the Jay has had the advantage of education from man, 
he has not only shown himself an apt scholar, but his suavity of man- 
ners seems equalled only by his art and contrivances; though it must 
be confessed, that his itch for thieving keeps pace with all his other 
acquirements. Dr. Mease, on the authority of Colonel Postell, of 
South Carolina, informs me, that a Blue Jay, which was brought up in 
the family of the latter gentleman, had all the tricks and loquacity of ., 
a parrot; pilfered every thing he could conveniently carry off, and hid 
them in holes and crevices; answered to his name with great 
sociability, when called on; could articulate a number of words pretty 
distinctly ; and, when he heard an uncommon noise, or loud talking, 
seemed impatient to contribute his share to the general festivity - 
he probably thought it) by a display of all the oratorical powers he 
was possessed of. 
Mr. Bartram relates an instance of the Jay’s sagacity, worthy of 
remark. “Having caught a Jay in the winter season,” says he, “I 
turned him loose in the greenhouse, and fed him with corn, (zea, maize,) 
the heart of which they are very fond of. This grain being ripe and 
hard, the bird at first found a difficulty in breaking it, as it would start 
from his bill when he struck it. After looking about, and, as if con- 
sidering for a moment, he picked up his grain, carried and placed it 
close up in a corner on the shelf, between the wal] and a plant. box, 
where, being confined on three sides, he soon effected his purpose, 
and continued afterwards to make use of this same practical expedient. 
The Jay,” continues this judicious observer, “is one of the most use- 
ful agents in the economy of nature, for disseminating forest-trees, 
and other ruciferous and hard-seeded vegetables on which they feed. 
Their chief employment, during the autumnal season, is foraging to 
supply their winter stores. In ‘perforrning this. necessary duty, they 
drop abundance of seed in their flight over fields, hedges, and by 
fences, where they alight to deposit them in the post holes, &c. It 
is remarkable what numbers of young trees rise up in fields and pas- 
tures after a wet winter and spring. These birds alone are capable, 
in a few years’ time, to replant all the cleared lands.” * 
% Letter of Mr. William Bartram to the author. 
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