The powers of imitation are very great in the Jay, both in 
its wild and domeftieatcd 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 who 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 fo heavy, that 
the generality of fmall birds eafily efcape from it when on 
wing. 
