ENEMIES OF THE GAME-REARER 



A trapper, writing in the Gamekeeper, gives a most 

 excellent account of the Jay. He says : — 



"The Jay is so pretty a bird and so interesting in its 

 habits that it would be a matter for regret should it become 

 extinct ; but this is little likely to occur, as it undoubtedly 

 is a migrant to this country. Persistent trapping certainly 

 has not decreased its numbers, and while the Jay is preserved 

 on the great forest-lands there are sure to be enough left 

 to satisfy the most exacting naturalist. 



" The Jay is supposed to be a flagrant destroyer of eggs, 

 but the harm it does amongst game eggs is greatly exag- 

 gerated. The bird rarely leaves the coverts except it be 

 in the early summer mornings when the fields are quiet, and 

 then it continues in such a nervous state that it is doubtful 

 if a nest in the fence is ever destroyed. Pheasant eggs laid 

 in coverts may be consumed to some extent, but the Jay is 

 far fonder of robbing the nests of small birds, and there is 

 no surer sign than such empty nests that Jays are present. 

 Judging by the way Crows and Magpies chase a Jay from 

 the neighbourhood of their nests, it is to be surmised that 

 this bird is no exponent of the old saying, ' Honour amongst 

 thieves.' Probably an &^g is an &g^ to the Jay, whatever 

 has produced it, but the bird has an eye for those of a 

 bright colour. 



" Many keepers prefer to have a Jay or two in their 

 coverts because they are so quick to utter their harsh cries 

 of alarm if intruders enter, and it is certain that a Fox who 

 attempts to hunt by daylight is considerably handicapped 

 where Jays exist. He is hardly likely to venture into the 

 open, and as long as he continues to prowl about the coverts, 

 the Jays accompany him overhead screaming all the time 

 and putting everything on the alert. Some naturalists say 



I9S 



