BLUE JAY— LEAST BITTERN— RUDDY PLOVER. 



55 



In return for all this abuse* the Hawk contents himself with now 

 and then feasting on the plumpest of his persecutors, who are, 

 therefore, in perpetual dread of him ; and yet, through some 

 strange infatuation, or from fear that if they lose sight of him he 

 may attack them unaware, the Sparrow Hawk no sooner appears 

 than the alarm is given, and the whole posse of Jays follow." The 

 length of this bird is about ten inches, and about twenty inches in 

 breadth. 



The Blue Jay. (Cyamirus cristatus,') 

 Fig. 3, Male. Fig. 4, Female. 



This bird probably enjoys as wide-spread a reputation as any of 

 our North American species. It is said that with but few excep- 

 tions there is no country upon the globe where some of its repre- 

 sentatives are not found. But it is on the American continent 

 that it is most abundantly diffused, especially in Mexico, and the 

 countries lying adjacent to the equator. 



Notwithstanding the beautiful appearance of the Blue Jay, it is 

 regarded with but little favor in North America, where it is found 

 in great numbers, a constant inhabitant both of the wooded wilder- 

 ness and the vicinity of the settled *farm, though more familiar at 

 the approach of winter and early in spring than at any other 

 season. " These wanderings or limited migrations," says Nuttall, 

 "are induced by necessity alone; his hoards of grain, nuts, and 

 acorns either have failed, or are forgotten; for, like other misers, 

 he is more assiduous to amass than to expend or enjoy his stores, 

 and the fruits of his labors very frequently either devolve to the 

 rats or squirrels, or accidentally assist in the replanting of the 

 forest. His visits, at this time, are not infrequent in the garden 

 and orchard, and his usual petulant address, of dg'ay, J'ay, J'ay, 

 and other harsh and trumpeting articulations, soon make his retreat 

 known to all in his neighborhood. So habitual is this sentinel-cry 

 of alarm, and so expressive, that all the birds within call, as well 

 as other wild animals, are instantly on the alert, so that the fowler 

 and hunter become generally disappointed of their game by this 

 garrulous and noisy propensity. He is, therefore, for his petulance, 

 frequently killed without pity or profit, as his flesh, though eaten, 

 has but little to recommend it. His more complaisant notes, when 

 undisturbed, though guttural and echoing, are by no means un- 

 pleasant, and fall in harmoniously with the cadence of the feathered 

 choristers around him, so as to form a finishing part to the general 

 music of the grove. His accents of blandishment, when influenced 

 by the softer passions, are low and musical, so as to be scarcely 

 heard beyond the thick branches where he sits concealed ; but, as 

 soon as discovered, he bursts out into notes of rage and reproach, 

 accompanying his voice by jerks and actions of temerity and de- 

 fiance." Wilson calls this species the Bird Trumpeter, from the 

 remarkable sound that it produces when alarmed ; and we learn 

 from other ornithologists that it can imitate the cry of the Buzzard 

 and Sparrow Hawk to such perfection as frequently to terrify the 

 smaller denizens of the woods, and raises such an uproar on per- 

 ceiving a fox or other enemy as compels the intruder to sneak 

 quietly away. "The Blue Jay," says Audubon, "is extremely 

 expert in discovering a fox, a raccoon, or any other quadruped 

 hostile to birds, and will follow it, emitting a loud noise, as if de- 

 sirous of bringing a Crow to its assistance. It acts in the same 

 manner toward Owls, and even on some occasions toward Hawks. 

 It is more tyrannical than brave, and like most boasters, domineers 

 over the feeble, dreads the strong, and flies ever from his equal. In 

 many cases, he is a downright coward. It robs every nest it 

 can find ; sucks the eggs, like the Crow, or tears to pieces and de- 

 vours the young birds. In the North, they are fond of ripe chest- 

 nuts, and in visiting the trees, is seen to select the choicest. When 

 these fail, it attacks the beech-nut, acorns, pears, apples, and green 

 corn." Large quantities of seeds, all kinds of insects, and flesh 

 are also eaten by these birds. The number of broods varies with 



the district in which the Jays are found, some breeding but once 

 and others twice in the year. The nest is formed of twigs and 

 other diy materials, lined with a bed of delicate fibers, on which, 

 in due season, four or five eggs are deposited; these latter are 

 olive-brown, marked with dark spots. 



Who could imagine that a form so graceful, arrayed by nature 

 in a garb so resplendent, should harbor so much mischief; that 

 selfishnt ss, duplicity, and malice should form the moral accom- 

 paniments of so much physical perfection? Yet so it is; and how 

 like beings of a much higher order are these gay deceivers I 



PLATE XL. 



The Least Bittern. (Ardetta exi/is.) 



Fig. 1. 



This very neat little species of Bittern is common in the United 

 States, and most usually to be seen in the remotest parts of exten- 

 sive marshes, from whence they seldom ever issue till the period of 

 migration, which is no doubt nocturnal, in accordance with their 

 usual habits. This bird is also seen in Jamaica, and several other 

 of the West India Islands. They are chiefly found in the fresh- 

 water marshes, or in places grown over with reeds and rushes, and 

 are rarely seen in salt meadows. Their food consists principally 

 of small fish of fresh water or inlets, and of aquatic insects. 

 "When alarmed," says Wilson, "they seldom fly far, but take 

 shelter among the reeds or long grass, and like the American 

 Bittern, feed chiefly in the night." When surprised at night in 

 their retreat, they are perfectly silent, and are not known to utter 

 any very audible note. The eggs are two, sometimes three in 

 number, and are of a dirty white color, and rather large for the) 

 size of the bird. The young remain in the nest until fully fledged, 

 and are fed by the parents. Like all other young of the tribe, 

 they sit on their heels, stretching their long legs forward, until . 

 advanced, when they will stand more erect. The length of this 

 bird is about twelve inches, and from tip to tip of the expanded 

 wings is about sixteen inches. 



The Sanderling, op Ruddy Plover. (Calidris armaria.) 



Fig. 2. 



This elegant little coast bird occupies, and is particularly attached 

 to sandy flats, and low, sterile, solitary seasides, divested of vege- 

 tation, and perpetually bleached by the access of tides and storms, 

 and is occasionally found near large pieces of fresh-water. In such 

 situations they are often seen in numerous flocks running along the 

 shore, busily employed in front of the moving waves, gleaning 

 with agility the shrimps, minute shell-fish, marine insects, and 

 small moluscous animals. Upon the ground, it runs with grace 

 and quick movement, and exhibits the utmost dexterity in its beau- 

 tiful and rapid motion through the air, during wW^l it frequently 

 joins company with parties of other shore birds. " The numerous 

 flocks," says Nuttall, "keep a low, circling course along the 

 strand, at times uttering a slender and rather plaintive whistle, 

 nearly like that of the smaller Sandpipers. On alighting, the 

 little, active troop, watching the opportunity, scatter themselves 

 about in the rear of the retiring surge ; the succeeding wave then 

 again urges the busy gleaners before it, when they appear like a 

 liitle pigmy army passing through their military evolutions ; and at 

 this time the wily sportsman, seizing his opportunity, spreads 

 destruction among their timid ranks, and so little are they aware 

 of the nature of the attack, that after making a few aerial meanders, 



