-z pale brownifh tint, faintly marked with obfcure blotches of 
a more dufky brown ; the young keep together in the vicinity 
of the neft till the enfuing fpring, when they feparate in pairs, 
and quit their former haunts for fome more retired fpot. 
The habits of the Jay nearly referable thofe of the magpie, 
and like it is held in averfion by the fportfman, as it feems to 
take pleafure in difappointing his exertions ; for on the approach 
of any one, it gives an alarm by its loud and reiterated notes 
that danger is near, and but few animals will venture abroad 
during the ftay of this noify intruder. Its food is various, 
confiding of grain, fruit, the feeds of moft kinds of forreft 
trees, particularly thofe of the oak and beech, alfo fmall birds, 
eggs, mice, and when hard prefled it will devour carrion : the 
hoards of acorns and beech-maft found in the hollows of trees, 
have frequently been confidered as ftores laid up by this bird 
(but we believe without any juft ground) as at the feafon when 
fuch a provifion would be reforted to, the Jay quits its more 
retired haunts, and approaches the farm-yard, where it pecks 
what eatables fall in its way. 
In confinement, this bird lofes much of its brilliancy of 
colour ; it foon becomes familiar, and is much given to pil- 
fering, fecreting pieces of money and trinkets, or any other 
fmall glittering articles ; it is very crafty, and when it con- 
ceives anyone to be in fearch of what it has purloined, it hops 
from place to place in feeming anxiety for the refult of thefe 
endeavours ; it will examine every hole and corner, turning 
up the earth or other loofe fubftances, at the fame time it is 
leading the inquirer in a contrary diredion to its hoard. 
The 
