The Canada Jay (Pensoreus canadensis) 

 By John Macoiin 



Length: 11^ inches. 



Range: Eastern North America, from northern United States northward. 



Common all the way from Missinabi, on the Canadian Pacific railway, down 

 the Moose river, and through Ungava to Ungava bay in 1896, and in 1904 north 

 to Cape Henrietta Maria on the west coast of Hudson bay. (Spreadborough.) 

 An abundant resident in Nova Scotia. (Dozmts.) A common winter resident in 

 Cumberland county, N. S. ; very fearless, coming about the buildings for scraps ; 

 I saw birds with grass in their bills late in March ; they evidently nest in April. 

 (C. H. Morrell.) A few observed at Baddeck, Cape Breton island. (F. H. 

 Allen.) A common resident at Sydney, Cape Breton island, but could find no one 

 who had ever seen a nest. (C. R. Harte.) Not uncommon in back districts in 

 Nova Scotia. {H. F. Tufts.) 



With mingled sound of horns and bells, 



A far-heard clang, the wild geese fly. 

 Storm-sent, from Arctic moors and fells, 



Like a great arrow through the sky, 

 Two dusky lines converged in one, 

 Chasing the Southward-flying sun ; 

 While the brave snow-bird and the hardy Jay 

 Call to them from the pines, as if to bid them stay. 



— John Greenleaf Whittier. 



Audacious, extremely bold, fearless, cunning, destructive, greedy, amusing, 

 and a thief, are all terms which may be applied to the Canada Jay. It is so well 

 known to the campers throughout its range and so various are its habits that 

 it has been given a number of common names. It is known as Whisky Jack or 

 Whisky John, names which sound like its Indian name Wiss-ka-chon or Wis-ka- 

 tjon, and are corruptions of it. Some of its other names are meat bird, venison 

 hawk, grease bird, moose bird and caribou bird. It has no more appropriate 

 name, however, than that of camp robber, a name by which it is known through- 

 out the length and breadth of its range. That this name well fits this impudent 

 bird is shown by the following quotation from The American Field: "He will 

 eat anything from soap to plug tobacco. His appetite and capacity to stow away 

 food is beyond belief. One day we had a dozen large salmon trout hung up to 

 dry, but being absent from camp for a few hours we returned to find four 

 whisky Jacks had totally annihilated our fish. They would fly off with pieces 

 half as large as themselves and in a few minutes return for more. It is not 

 possible they could have eaten it all. I have fed them small bits until they 



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