THE CANADA JAY. 123 



The legs were of a deep purplish-black. In short, it bore a perfect resem- 

 blance to the bird called the "Short-billed Jay, or Whisky-Jack, Garrulus 

 brachyrhynchus" of my excellent friend Mr. Swainson, as described and 

 figured by himself and Dr. Richardson in their beautiful and valuable Fauna 

 Boreali-Americana, (Vol. II. p. 296, PI. 551.) So unlike the parent birds 

 did the young of this species appear, that before I saw them fed by the old 

 ones, I urged my young companions to shoot every one of the brood, think- 

 ing they might be of a new species. The contents of the stomach of both 

 young and old birds were insects, leaves of fir trees, and eggs of ants. The 

 intestines measured one foot eleven inches. The flesh of both was of a dark 

 bluish colour, and smelt strongly of their food. 



I was induced to give a figure of the young of the Canada Jay simply 

 because, as above mentioned, my friend Mr. Swainson formed of it a new 

 species, under the name of Garrulus brachyrhynchus. The account given 

 of this alleged species, at page 296 of the second part of the Fauna Boreali- 

 Americana, is as follows: — "The only specimen brought home of the Short- 

 billed Jay was killed on the roof of the dwelling-house at Fort Franklin. 

 Its general appearance and manners resemble those of the Canada Jay or 

 Whisky-Jack so strongly, that we did not recognise it as a distinct species, 

 and consequently did not ascertain whether it completely replaces the 

 Canadian one in high latitudes, or whether both exist in the same localities." 

 The description of the habits of the Canada Jay or "Whisky-Jack," in the 

 same work, may here be referred to: — 



"This inelegant but familiar Jay inhabits the woody districts from latitude 

 65° to Canada, and in the winter time makes its appearance in the northern 

 section of the United States. Scarcely has the winter traveller in the Fur 

 Countries chosen a suitable place of repose in the forest, cleared away the 

 snow, lighted his fire, and prepared his bivouac, when the Whisky -Jack pays 

 him a visit, and boldly descends into the circle to pick up any crumbs of 

 frozen fish or morsels of pemmican that have escaped the mouths of the 

 hungry and weary sledge-dogs. This confidence compensates for the want 

 of many of those qualities which endear others of the feathered tribes to 

 man. There is nothing pleasing in the voice, plumage, form, or attitudes of 

 the Whisky-Jack; but it is the only inhabitant of those silent and pathless 

 forests which, trusting in the generosity of man, fearlessly approaches him; 

 and its visits were, therefore, always hailed by us with satisfaction. It is a 

 constant attendant at the fur-posts and fishing-stations, and becomes so tame 

 in winter as to eat from the hand; yet it is impatient of confinement, and 

 soon pines away if deprived of liberty. It hops actively from branch to 

 branch, but, when at rest, sits with its head retracted and the plumage of the 

 body very loose. Its voice is plaintive and squeaking; though it occasion- 



