BLUE JAY. 
137 
humble and peaceable way, she also descended, and began to do the 
same ; but at the slightest motion of her new guest, wheeled round and 
put herself on the defensive. All this ceremonious jealousy vanished 
before evening, and they now roost together, feed, and play together, in 
perfect harmony and good humor. When the Jay goes to drink, his 
messmate very impudently jumps into the water to wash herself, throw- 
ing the water in showers over her companion, who bears it all patiently ; 
venturing now and then to take a sip between every splash, without 
betraying the smallest token of irritation. On the contrary, he seems 
to take pleasure in his little fellow-prisoner, allowing her to pick 
(which she does very gently) about his whiskers, and to clean his claws 
from the minute fragments of chestnuts which happen to adhere to them. 
This attachment on the one part, and mild condescension on the other, 
may, perhaps, be partly the effect of mutual misfortunes, Avhich are found 
not only to knit mankind, but many species of inferior animals, more 
closely together ; and shows that the disposition of the Blue Jay may 
be humanized, and rendered susceptible of affectionate impressions, even 
for those birds, which, in a state of nature, he would have no hesitation 
in making a meal of. 
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 little hawk [F. sparverius), imitating 
his cry wherever he sees him, and squealing out as if cauglit ; 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 con- 
cealed in bushes, ready to second their associates in the attack. But 
this ludicrous farce often terminates tragically. The ha^Yk singling out 
one of the most insolent and provoking, sweeps upon him in an un- 
guarded moment, and offers him up a sacrifice to his hunger and resent- 
ment. In an instant the tune is changed ; all their buffoonery vanishes, 
and loud and incessant screams proclaim their disaster. 
Wherever the Jay has had the advantage of education from man, he 
has not only shown himself an apt scholar, but his suavity of manners 
seems equalled only by his art and contrivances ; though it must be 
confessed that his itch for thieving keeps pace with all his other acquire- 
ments. Dr. Mease, on the authority of Colonel Postell, of South 
Carolina, informs me, that a Blue Jay, Avhich was brought up in the 
family of the latter gentleman, had all the tricks and loquacity of a 
parrot ; pilfered everything he could conveniently carry off, and hid 
them in holes and crevices ; answered to his name with great sociability, 
when called on ; could articulate a number of Avords pretty distinctly ; 
and when he heard any uncommon noise or loud talking, seemed 
impatient to contribute his share to the general festivity (as he probably 
