284 
OUR HOME BIRDS. 
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 circumstances seem truly to 
sympathize with each other — and he is sometimes 
attacked with such spirit as to be under the neces- 
sity of making a speedy retreat.’ 
“ It is pleasant,” continued Miss Harson, “ to read 
something at last in favor of this mischievously-dis- 
posed bird ; and some one writes that ‘ the jay is one 
of the most useful agents in the economy of Nature 
for disseminating forest trees and other hard-seeded 
vegetables on which they feed. Their chief employ- 
ment during the autumnal season is foraging to sup- 
ply their winter stores. In performing this necessary 
duty they drop abundance of seed in their flight over 
fields, hedges, and by fences, where they alight to de- 
posit them in the post-holes and other suitable places. 
It is remarkable what numbers of young trees rise 
up in fields and pastures after a wet winter and 
spring. These birds alone are able in a few years’ 
time to replant all the cleared lands.’ 
“ The blue jay builds a large nest, usually in the 
cedar, but sometimes on an apple tree — forms the 
outside of sticks and lines it with dry, fibrous roots. 
It is concealed as much as possible ; and the male 
partner is particularly careful not to draw the atten- 
