80 OMNIVORI. CORVUS. JAY. 
ets of large woods, and is formed of sticks, lined with the 
fibres of roots. The eggs are five or six in number, of a pale 
Power of 
imitation. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
blue colour, obscurely blotched with yellowish-brown. 
The progeny are said by Mr Prennanr to follow the pa- 
rent birds till the succeeding spring, but I have not been able 
to satisfy myself as to this fact. 
Although the usual notes of this bird are harsh and grating 
to the ear, yet, we are told by Monracu, that it is capable 
of uttering a pleasant though low sort of song in the spring 
time, introducing at intervals the bleating of a lamb, mewing 
of a cat, the note of a hawk, the hooting of an owl, and even 
the neighing of a horse, and these imitations given with such 
exactness as to deceive many who have heard them. The jay 
is frequently tamed, not only on account of the beauty of its 
plumage, but for the facility with which it learns to articulate 
words, and to imitate a variety of sounds. BEwick mentions. 
one that could perform the noise made by the action of a saw, 
and another that had been taught to hound a cur dog, on the 
approach of cattle. 
These birds are found in most of the temperate parts of 
Europe, and in France are even abundant, but seldom con- 
eregate largely. 
Piate 32. Natural size. 
Bill black, slightly notched at the tip. Inides pearl-grey. 
Forehead and crown of the head streaked with black, 
the feathers elongated and narrow, and forming a crest, 
which it can erect or depress at pleasure. From the 
corners of the mouth are black moustaches, poimting 
downwards. Chin white. Hund part of the head, back 
and scapulars light brownish-purple-red. Rump, breast, 
and belly white. Lesser wing coverts brownish-orange, 
Greater coverts beautifully barred with blue and black ; 
the feathers stiff and compact. Greater quills dusky, 
the outer webs bluish-grey. The six anterior secon- 
daries black, having the outer web white towards the 
base, the two next entirely black, the rest brownsh-red, 
