The powers of imitation are very great in the Jay, both in 

 •its wild and domeftieated ftates ; the neighing of a horfe, the 

 lowing of cattle, the hooting of an owl, the mewing of a cat^ 

 and the bleating of a flock feem to be founds capable of giving 

 it great pleafure, and which it repeats fo accurately, as to de- 

 ceive a perfon yvho may even be ufed to its notes ; we have 

 been informed, that in the winter it imitates the notes of fmall 

 birds, by which it decoys them within its reach and then 

 pounces; this is far from improbable, as it flies fp heavy, that 

 the generality of fmall birds eafijy. efcape from it when on 

 wing. 



