birds as conservators of the forest. 269 



The Jays. 



There are within the limits of the United States ten species, with several 

 subspecies, of jays, all of which inhabit the forest, or at least avoid the habitations 

 and improvements of man. In the east there are two species, the blue jay 

 (Cyanocitta cristatd) and the Canada jay (Perisoreus canadensis). On the Pacific 

 coast several species of jays are found, but two are conspicuous, as they inhabit 

 the more thickly settled portion of that region. These are the California jay 

 (Aphelocoma californica) and Stellar's jay {Cyanocitta stclleri). In their general 

 habits they strongly resemble the blue jay of the east, and their food habits are 

 much the same, though the western species feed much more freely on fruit than 

 their eastern relative. This perhaps is owing to greater opportunities, and the 

 taste may be an acquired one. Like the eastern species, however, mast is a 

 prominent ingredient of their food, and it is this which renders the group of interest 

 to foresters. 



The Blue Jay. 



Of all the birds of the forest, there are few that are more conspicuous than 

 the blue jay of the east. Its plumage is of the most brilliant hues, and its voice 

 is loud and piercing. Besides, it is an active bird, and always seems to have a 

 good deal of business on hand, but still has plenty of time to inquire into yours 

 if you happen to trespass upon what it considers its own especial domain. As 

 the bird is a resident in most parts of its range, it is seen most often and to the 

 best advantage in fall and winter. At such times the brilliant hue of its plumage 

 is finely contrasted with the crimson leaves, or with the snows of winter. 



It is as a nut eater that the jay becomes of the most interest in its relation 

 to the forest ; still its diet does contain a fair percentage of harmful insects. 

 Among those eaten were a number of beetles' belonging to the. genera Cotalpa, 

 Pelidnota and Lachnosterna, all of which are injurious to trees, while some 

 Chrysomelids were taken, which feed upon foliage. Besides these, several weevils 

 belonging to the genus Balaninus were eaten. This insect infests acorns, chestnuts, 

 etc., and was probably taken by the jay while collecting mast, which is its favorite 

 food. Caterpillars are also eaten to some extent in the last of summer and early 

 fall. In the winter months the jay eats the eggs of injurious moths, notably 

 those of the tent caterpillars (Malacosoma). Mr. E. H. Forbush records that it 

 fed freely upon the larvae of the gypsy moth, perhaps the most destructive 

 enemy to the forest ever known in America. 



The largest item of food in the yearly diet of the jay is mast — that is, acorns, 

 chestnuts, chinquapins, beechnuts, etc. The jay not only eats these but stores 



