CANADA JAY. 



Perisoreus canadensis Bonaparte. 



lg»HE Canada Jay is one of the most abundant birds of the Canadian and Hudsonian 

 1U faunas. It is also known as Moose-bird and Whiskey Jack, the latter name not 

 being derived "from any supposed predilection for that beverage, but probably, as 

 Mr. Kennicott has suggested, from a corruption of the Indian name for these birds,, 

 Wis-ka-chon, which has been contorted into Whiskey John and thence into Whiskey Jack." 

 Its breeding range extends from noi-thern New England, northern New York, and 

 northern Wisconsin, northward to Arctic America, and in all the wooded portions of 

 this territory, especially in the coniferous forests, it is exceedingly abundant. According 

 to Richardson, it is a constant attendant at the fur-posts and fishing stations, and 

 becomes so tame in the winter as to feed from the hand. Yet it is impatient to con- 

 finement, and soon pines away if deprived of its liberty. Its voice is plaintive and 

 squeaking, though it occasionally makes a low chattering. It hoards berries, pieces of 

 meat, etc., in hollow trees, or between layers of bark, by which it is enabled to feed its 

 young while the ground is still covered with snow. 



In northern Michigan and Wisconsin it is exceedingly numerous during winter 

 near the lumbermen's camps, where it feeds on all kinds of refuse from the kitchen. It 

 will always venture into close proximity of man. In the region of Lake Gogebic, Mich., 

 it is a great annoyance to the hunter by its warning the game that the enemy approaches. 

 Fish and all kinds of meat are certain to attract numbers of them, and it even eats the 

 bait placed in the traps used for capturing fishers, otters, foxes, and other animals. 

 "While moose-hunting on December 6," writes Mr. Ernest E. Thompson, "we had 

 crawled close to a herd, when suddenly the loud screaming of the Whiskey Jack was 

 heard, and before we could get a glimpse of them the moose had sought safety in flight. 

 "During the niunberless times that I have camped in the winter woods of the 

 North-west, I have hardly ever failed to have the Wis-ka-chon for a companion. Some- 

 times I have been awakened in the morning by the melancholy wailing of the bird a 

 few inches from my head. Many a time I have fed it with scraps placed in such situa- 

 tions that its courage would be sorely tried before it could secure the dainties. Once I 

 laid a piece of meat on the snow between myself and my companion. After one or two 

 approaches the bird rushed in and seized the morsel. Then I laid a piece between myself 

 and the fire some six feet away ; this also was taken. Finally I stuck a piece on the 

 end of the pot-stick, which is a stout stick propped up so that it affords support to a, 

 kettle over the fire; and although by so doing the bird had to fly down within six 

 inches of a hot clear fire, without hesitation it dashed in and secured the prize. Long 

 experience has taught it that a camp is a sure place for a feast, and as soon as the ax 

 is brought into play to prepare the fire-wood it is usual to hear the responsive tay tay 

 of the Wis-ka-chon approaching from some distant part of the timber. This call-note 

 of the species is much like the ordinary cry of the Blue Jay, but it has several others^ 

 that are distinctively its own; this includes the melancholy sobs and wails which. 



