94 



NORTH AMERICA. 



The Magpie. 



long grass, and then nicely plastered all round with mud and clay. The body of the nest being 



thus made firm and commodious, the 

 next work is to make the canopy, 

 which is to defend it above. This 

 is composed of the sharpest thorns, 

 woven together in such a manner as 

 to deny all entrance except at the 

 door, which is just large enough to 

 permit egress and regress to the own- 

 ers. This bird, in its domestic state, 

 preserves its natural character with 

 strict propriety. The same noisy, 

 mischievous habits attend it to the 

 cage, that marked it in the woods; and 

 being more cunning, so it is a more 

 docile bird than any other taken into 

 keeping. 



The Blue Jay (C. cristatus) is pe- 

 culiar to North America, and is dis- 

 tinguished as a kind of beau among 

 the feathered tribes of our woods. 

 He has not only a fine note of his 

 own, but possesses great talents for 

 mimicry. When disposed for ridi- 

 cule, there is scarcely a bird whose 

 peculiarities of song he cannot imi- 

 tate. While engaged in this sport, 

 he accompanies his various songs with numberless nods, jerks, and gesticulations. By these 

 means he makes himself extremely disliked, and is particularly dreaded by the owl, who is 



treated by him with the greatest insolence and contempt. 

 The Jay feeds on chestnuts, acorns, and Indian corn, and 

 very frequently sucks the eggs, and devours the young 

 of other birds, thus spreading alarm and sorrow round 

 him. 



Stelhr^s Jay (C. /Sfe//er/) is a very elegant bird. The 

 head, neck and crest, and part of the back, are of a 

 brownish black, the throat grayish, and the rest of the 

 plumage of a beautiful blue. The feathers on the front 

 of the head are tipped with blue. One specimen of this 

 bird was shot near Columbia river, and another of more 

 brilliant plumage, in Mexico. Of its habits little or 

 nothing is known. It inhabits the western territories of 

 the United States beyond the Rocky Mountains. 



The Florida Jay (C. Floridanus) is not confined to 

 that country, but is found in Louisiana, and extends 

 northward to Kentucky. It is very abundant in East 

 Florida, where it is found at all seasons in low bushes. 

 Their notes are varied greatly, and resemble those of 

 the thrush and blue jay. Mr. Ord, who has studied this 

 species, says that they are quarrelsome, active, and 

 noisy, and construct their nests in thickets. 

 The Canada Jay (C. Canadensis) is wholly confined to the northern parts of America, and 

 IS found in numbers around Hudson's Bay. These birds build their nests in pine trees. Like 

 the rest of the jays, they are great pilferers, great prattlers, and much given to mischief. They 

 rove about in winter in search of food, and are sometimes bold enough to enter the tents, and 

 snatch the meat from the dishes. Their usual food is berries, worms, and insects. 



The Cedar Bird. This charming bird {Bombycilla Carolincnsis) is found throughout 

 North America. Their principal food consists in berries of all kinds, and they are very partis) 



Blue Jay. 



