My Yucatan Jay. 
123 
To accomplish tlii^ T measured off a piece of my garden forty 
feet by thirty, enclosinj? thi'^ with wii-e-netting' and <?alvani/,ed- 
iron, on the same lines as the last three aviaries were con- 
structed, keepin.q- also to the same lieig'ht. I planted this with 
laurels, privet, box, and a few small conifers; also with such 
flowering-plants as Michaelmas Daisies, Sunflowers, etc. At 
one end I put up a small shelter 20ft. x 7ft.; at the other 
I dug- out a small pond, which was constantly supplied with 
running water fi-om a small stream. 
A goofl many birds nested here the first season, but 
the sole result was the enrichment of my collection of birds' 
eggs, as the majority of the eggs were for some reason or 
other infertile. A Green Cardinal (GubernatrLr c.rMata) laid 
twenty-five eggs, all of which were clear. What few birds 
left the nest fell victims to my Blue Rails before they were 
able to fend for themselves. These handsome liii-ds, andabo 
the Grey -backed Porphyries, proved veritalile murderers, and I 
had to dispose of both pairs. 
The shelter, I found, M'as very little used by the birds, 
although it proved useful to drive them into when any had to 
be caught. The I'eason they failed to use it was, I think, 
because the entrance to the flight was through the shelter, so 
that the birds were disturbed each time anyone entered the 
aviary. This has now been altered. 
To he continued. 
My Yucatan Jay. 
By Lady Ivathleen Pilkixgtox. 
It has been the writer's privilege to own many birds 
of all kinds and sorts, from the hand-reared and disreputalil(> 
JackdaA\' of her nursery days to the delicate and beautiful 
foreigners of maturer years, but among them all none has 
ever possessed more charm of mind, manner and appearance 
than the Yucatan Jay, which is now by far the best beloved of 
the occupants of the bird-room. 
He came into my possession at the L.C.B.A. Show of 
1913, a young hobble de hoy — still adorned with the yellow 
beak and immature plumage of youth. Each day of the Show 
