could hardly fly enough to get in a tree. Our pork, soap, tobacco and other 

 provisions were unsafe in their sight and reach. Our Indians used to say : 

 'Him eat moccasins, fur cap, matches, anytink.' I once snared two of them 

 and put them in a cage made of birch bark and tamarack roots. Half an hour 

 after their capture they would eat greedily from my hand. He is well named 

 'Whisky Jack,' as I never saw a more insane, drunken-acting creature in my 

 Hfe." One observer of the habits of this Jay relates the following account : 

 While eating his lunch he laid a bag of crackers on the ground by his side. A 

 Canada Jay, noting this action, flew down to the bag and entering the open top 

 began to help itself. The observer quickly grasped the top of the bag, and closing 

 the opening, caught the Jay. Regarding the food of this, the boldest of all our 

 birds — possibly excepting the chickadee — it may be said that they will devour, 

 or at least take and hide, everything that can be eaten. 



While one writer has said that the Canada Jay does not "possess a single 

 good quality excepting industry," and even though its thieving propensities make 

 it a consummate nuisance, it has, perhaps, some redeeming features in its lack 

 of character. Throughout its range, which extends from northern New England, 

 northern New York, northern ^lichigan, and northern Minnesota, northward to 

 the Arctic regions of America, the Canada Jay is the constant companion of 

 the trappers, hunters and lumbermen who camp in its environment. Its antics 

 and the varied phases of its habits serve as entertainment for them. It com- 

 mands attention, for its peculiarities are well worth studying. One never knows 

 what it will do next. As it does not seem to fear man, it easily becomes tame. 

 Mr. Ernest E. Thompson, who has had the companionship of the Canada Jay 

 at numberless camps in the winter woods of the Northwest, and has had an 

 excellent opportunity to study its habits, says : 'T have fed it with scraps placed 

 in such situations that its courage would be sorely tried before it could secure 

 the dainties. Once I laid a piece of meat on the snow between myself and my 

 companion. After one or two approaches the bird rushed in and seized the 

 morsel. Then I laid a piece between myself and the fire, some six feet away ; 

 this also was taken. Finally I stuck a piece on the end of the pot stick, which 

 is a stout stick propped up so that it affords support to a kettle over the fire ; and 

 although by so doing the bird had to fly down within six inches of a hot clear 

 fire, without hesitation it dashed in and secured the prize. Long experience has 

 taught it that a carnp is a sure place for a feast, and as soon as the ax is brought 

 into play to prepare the fire-wood it is usual to hear the responsive 'tay tay' of 

 the Wiskachon approaching from some distant part of the timber." 



Though the Canada Jay does damage many pelts obtained by the trapper, 

 by eating holes in them, and is constantly pilfering all the eatables of the camp 

 within reach of its bill, these are, perhaps, not its worst sins. It is well known 

 that this Jay will destroy the eggs and young of other birds. Mr. Edward A. 

 Samuels says : "I once knew of a single pair of these birds destroying the young 



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