CANADA JAY. ' 141 
notwithstanding all wliich ingenuity and good qualities, they arc, as we 
are informed, detested by the natives."* 
The only individuals of this species that I ever met with in the United 
Statas were on the shores of the Mohawk, a short way above the Little 
Falls. ■ It was about the last of November, and the ground deeply 
covered with snow. There were three or four in company, or Avithin a 
small distance of each other, flitting leisurely along the road side, keep- 
ing up a kind of low chattering with one another, and seemed nowise 
apprehensive at my approach. I soon secured the whole ; from the 
best of which the drawing in the plate was carefully made. On dissec- 
tion I found their stomachs occupied by a few spiders and the aurelise 
of some insects. I could perceive no dilference between th« plumage of 
the male and female. 
The Canada Jay is eleven inches long, and fifteen in extent ; back, 
wings, and tail, a dull leaden gray, the latter long, cuneiform, and tipped 
with dirty white ; interior vanes of the wings brown, and also partly 
tipped with white ; plumage of the head loose and prominent ; the fore- 
head and feathers covering the nostril, as well as the whole lower parts, 
a dirty brownish white, which also passes round the bottom of the neck 
like a collar ; part of the crown and hind-head black ; bill and legs also 
black ; eye dark hazel. The whole plumage on the back is long, loose, 
unwebbcd, and in great abundance, as if to protect it from the rigors 
of the regions it inhabits. 
A gentleman of observation, who resided for many years near the 
North river, not far from Hudson, in the state of New York, informs 
me, that he has particularly observed this bird to arrive there at the 
commencement of cold Aveather — he has often remarked its solitary 
habits ; it seemed to seek the most unfrequented shaded retreats, keep- 
ing almost constantly on the ground, yet would sometimes, towards 
evening, mount to the top of a small tree, and repeat its notes (which 
a little resemble those of the Baltimore) for a quarter of an hour to- 
gether ; and this it generally did immediately before snow, or falling 
weather. 
* IIearne's Journey, p. 405. 
