194 
VERTEBRATA. 
dress; and, like most other coxcombs, makes himself still more conspicuous by his loquacity, and 
the oddness of his tones and gestures. He is an almost universal inhabitant of the woods, fre- 
quenting the thickest settlements as well as the deepest recesses of the forest, where his squalling 
voice often alarms the deer, to the disappointment and mortification of the hunter ; one of whom 
informed me, that he made it a point, in summer, to kill every jay he could meet with. In the 
charming season of spring, when every thicket pours forth harmony, the part performed by the 
jay always catches the ear. Be appears to be among his fellow-musicians what the trumpeter is 
in a band, some of his notes having no distant resemblance to the tones of that instrument. 
These he has the faculty of changing through a great variety of modulations, according to the 
particular humor he happens to be in. When disposed for ridicule, there is scarce a bird whose 
peculiarities of song he cannot tune his notes to. When engaged in the blandishments of love, 
they resemble the soft chatterings of a duck, and, while he nestles among the thick branches of 
the cedar, are scarce heard at a few paces' distance ; but he no sooner discovers your approach 
than he sets up a sudden and vehement outcry, flying ofl", and screaming with all his might, as 
if he called the whole feathered tribes of the neighborhood to witness some outrageous usage he 
had received. When he hops undisturbed among the high branches of the oak and hickory, they 
become soft and musical ; and his calls of the female, a stranger would readily mistake for the re- 
peated screakings of an ungreased wheelbarrow. All these he accompanies with various nods, 
jerks, and other gesticulations, for which the whole tribe of jays are remarkable. 
"This bird builds a large nest, frequently in the cedar, sometimes on an apple-tree, lines it with 
dry fibrous roots, and lays five eggs, of a dull olive, spotted with brown. The male is particularly 
careful of not being heard near the place, making his visits as silently and secretly as possible. 
His favorite food consists of chestnuts, acorns, and Indian corn. He occasionally feeds on bugs 
and caterpillars, and sometimes pays a plundering visit to the orchard, cherry-rows, and potato- 
, patch; and has been known, in times of scarcity, to venture into the barn, through openings be- 
tween the weather-boards. In these cases he is extremely active and silent, 'and, if surprised in 
the fact, makes his escape with precipitation, but without noise, as if conscious of his criminality. 
"Of all birds, he is the most bitter enemy of the owl. No sooner has he discovered the retreat 
of one of these, than he summons the whole feathered fraternity to his assistance, Avho surround 
the glimmering solitaire, and attack him from all sides, raising such a shout as may be heard, in 
a still day, more than half a mile off. When, in my hunting excursions, I have passed near this 
scene of tumult, I have imagined to myself that I heard the insulting party venting their respect- 
ive charges with all the virulency of a Billingsgate mob ; the owl, meanwhile, returning every 
compliment with a broad, goggling stare. The war becomes louder and louder, and the owl at 
length, forced to betake himself to flight, is followed by his whole ti*ain of persecutors, until driven 
beyond the boundaries of their jurisdiction. 
"But the blue jay himself is not guiltless of similar depredations with the owl, and becomes in 
his turn the very tyrant he detested, when he sneaks through the woods, as he frequently does, 
and among the thickets and hedge-rows, plundering every nest he can find of its eggs, tearing up 
the callow young by piecemeal, and spreading alarm and sorrow around him. The cries of the 
distressed parents soon bring together a number of interested spectators — for birds in such cir- 
cumstances seem truly to sympathize with each other — and he is sometimes attacked with such 
spirit as to be under the necessity of making a speedy retreat. 
"He is not only bold and vociferous, but possesses a considerable talent for mimicry, and seems 
to enjoy great satisfaction in mocking and teasing other birds, particularly the sparrow-hawk, im- 
itating his cry wherever he sees him, and squealing out as if caught ; this soon brings a number 
of his own tribe around him, who all join in the frolic, darting about the hawk, and feigning the 
cries of a bird sorely wounded, and already under the clutches of its devourer ; while others lie 
concealed in bushes, ready to second their associates in the attack. But this ludicrous farce often 
terminates tragically. The hawk, singling out one of the most insolent and provoking, sweeps 
upon him in an unguarded moment, and ofiers him up a sacrifice to his hunger and resentment. 
In an instant the tune is changed ; all their bufibonery vanishes, and loud and incessant screams 
proclaim their disaster. 
