JAY. 
GARRULUS GLAND ARIUS. 
In none of my notes can I find any record of having observed the Jay further north than Perthshire ; and in 
that county I met with it on but few occasions. In the south of Scotland it is less scarce, hut, according to 
my own experience, its numbers are kept well within bounds. Throughout England it is to be found in most 
wooded districts, more plentiful perhaps in the southern than in other portions of the country. In Middlesex 
several pairs of Jays used to frequent some thick coverts about halfway between London and Harrow-on-the- 
Hill. These woods must have been a happy resort for vermin in those days (now about thirty years ago), as, 
in addition to the Jays (which were abundant), both Magpies and Crows nested in the district, while polecats 
and stoats were by no means scarce. 
The well-known destructive habits of this species render it a particularly hateful object in the eyes of most 
game-keepers ; and as the bird is easily attracted by means of eggs as bait, its numbers are now year by year 
rapidly diminishing. I have trapped hundreds early in the spring, in Sussex, before the woods had broken out 
in leaf. A small platform or staging, constructed by broken branches, was formed, at the height of about 
three feet from the ground, on some bush in an open part of the covert. On this a trap was concealed by 
means of litter or dead grass ; and a Thrush’s nest placed at one end completed the very simple but certain 
method of capture. Eggs of the Thrush were always preferable to those of the Blackbird, owing to their more 
conspicuous colouring ; but I have used the latter with almost equal success. Magpies were also frequently 
taken ; and at times an unfortunate squirrel was made prisoner. When placing the traps on the ground, at the 
side of a hedgerow or round the outskirts of a wood, I usually baited with the eggs of the tame Pigeon or 
domestic Eowl ; and the Carrion-Crow (and, in one instance, the Haven) was now and then secured, in addition 
to the usual list of victims. 
An old keeper in my father’s service used to declare he shot numbers of Jays by drawing them to the spot 
where he was concealed by means of a hedgehog. Ilis plan was to tickle the animal’s legs by scraping them 
with the teeth of a comb ; and the shrill yells the unfortunate beastie uttered during the operation were 
supposed to attract the Jays. I distinctly remember being present at some of these performances ; but as it 
is now nearly five-and- thirty years ago, I am uncertain what amount of success was met with. I, however, 
still retain a vivid recollection of the large paper bags full of blue feathers from the wings of his victims, which 
the poor old fellow stored up with jealous care, regarding them as a sure source of unlimited wealth. 
The Jay, I conclude, is stationary all the year in the districts it inhabits ; and it is probable that our 
native birds receive no additions to their numbers from the continent. 
The nest is a small collection of rough sticks, neatly lined with fibrous roots. It is generally placed near 
the stem of some small tree, at a height of from five to ten feet. 
