The Gray Jays 



vestigation of Tits' nests has something of the fascination of the gaming 

 table for the jay, since he never knows what the wonder-pouches may 

 contain until he has ripped a hole in the side and inserted a piratical beak. 



It is well known that the gentleman burglar takes a conscientious 

 pride in the safety and welfare of his own home. Nothing shall molest 

 his dear ones. The jay becomes secretive and silent as the time for 

 nest-building approaches. The nest is well concealed in a dense thicket 

 of fir saplings, or else set at various heights in the larger fir trees. If 

 one but looks at it before the complement of eggs is laid, the locality is 

 deserted forthwith. If, however, the enterprise is irretrievably launched, 

 the birds take care not to be seen in the vicinity of their nest, unless they 

 are certain of its discovery, in which case they call heaven and earth 

 to witness that the man is a monster of iniquity, and that he is plotting 

 against the innocent. The youngsters, too, quickly learn to assume the 

 attitude of affronted innocence. At an age when most bird-babies would 

 make a silent get-away under cover of the parental defense, young Steller 

 Jays will turn to and berate the stranger in common with their parents, 

 with all the virtuous zeal of ordained elders. 



Mischief and the "Blue Jay" are synonymous. Alert, restless, saucy, 

 inquisitive, and provoking, yet always interesting, this handsome brigand 

 keeps his human critics in a perpetual see-saw between wrath and admir- 

 ation. As a sprightly piece of Nature, the Steller Jay is an unqualified 

 success. As the hero-subject of a guessing contest he is without a peer, 

 for one never knows what he is doing until he has done it, and none may 

 predict what he will do next. 



No. 11 



Oregon Jay 



A. O. U. No. 485. Perisoreus obscurus obscurus Ridgvvay. 



Synonyms. — (Properly) Oregon Gray Jay or Coastal Gray Jay. "Camp 

 Robber." "Meat Bird." "Deer Hunter." 



Description. — Adults: In general, upperparts deep brownish gray (nearest 

 chaetura drab); underparts white tinged with brownish gray; forehead and nasal 

 plumules most nearly clear white; cheeks, auriculars, and obscure band around neck, 

 white, more or less tinged with brownish; crown and nape sooty brown, nearly black; 

 feathers of back with white shafts more or less exposed; wings and tail drab gray (scarce- 

 ly different from back), the former with narrow whitish tips on middle and greater 

 coverts; tail tipped with paler gray. Bill and feet black; iris brown. Young birds 

 are nearly uniform sooty brown, lightening below. Length about 254 (10.00); wing 

 !35 (5-3°); ta il I2 7 (5-oo); bill 18 (.71); tarsus 33 (1.30). 



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