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In general character this bird is impudent and noisy. Its cal! 
resembles the word “ chacit. '' Its food consists of worms, grubs, 
the eggs and young of other birds, grain, peas and fruit, and, in 
their season, beech mast and acorns, but it is not particular and 
preys upon carrion when occasion offers. 
The Jackdaw makes an interesting pet, and is frequently kept in 
semi-captivity, where it invariably shows thievish propensities. 
The writer believes that the disappearance of the Chough from 
many of its nesting-places is due more to the species being ousted 
by the Jackdaw than to any other reason. 
For another photograph of the nest and eggs of the Jackdaw 
see Wild Birds at Home, Fourth Series, Page 23. A fine photo- 
graph of an adult bird will be found on Page 14 of Nature 
Pictures (Gowans & Gray, I.td., 7/6 net). 
Jay (Pages 7-14). — The Jay was at one time common, but has 
been so much shot down by gardeners, and more especially by 
gamekeepers, that it is now comparatively scarce. In winter the 
numbers of our native birds are largely added to by immigrants 
from the Continent. As the Jay is undoubtedly responsible for the 
disappearance of a large number both of eggs and young birds it is 
ruthlessly destroyed by the gamekeeper, and, in addition, it bears 
the penalty of the bright blue feathers it shows on either wing, 
which are much in demand for trout flies. Naturally shy and wary, 
these characteristics have been intensified by the persecution it has 
met with, and it still manages to survive in certain districts, though 
in Ireland it is stated to be nearly extinct. 
The Jay measures some 13 inches in length. Its bill is strong and 
powerful, being over an inch long. The general colour of the 
plumage is vinous-brown, the crown of the head streaked with black 
and distinctly crested, throat white with a broad black moustachial 
streak above, the forehead whitish with black streaks, while the 
outstanding features of the plumage are the wing-patches of a bright 
blue barred with black. The iris is pale blue, giving a keen alert 
look to the bird. The note of the [ay is a harsh chattering sound, 
resembling “ Chaick." The Jay feeds on worms, spiders, grubs, 
and, as above mentioned, robs freely the nests of other birds, 
devouring both eggs and young. See the remarkably interesting, 
and probably unique, photograph on Page 14. It is also fond of 
fruit and peas, and in the autumn consumes great numbers of 
acorns, its partiality for which is alluded to in the scientific name 
given to the bird. The flight is laboured, and performed with rapid 
beating of the wings ; but the bird, though capable of extended 
flight, is seldom to be seen in the open, and is most usually to be 
observed flying from tree to tree. It frequents wooded districts, 
where, in the fork of a tree, the nest is usually placed at some 
distance from the ground ; the persecution to which the species has 
been subjected seems to be encouraging it to build at an increasing 
height. The nest is formed of twigs and roots, lined with fine 
rootlets, and is strong and compact, though from the outside it 
seems to be loosely constructed. The eggs vary from three to 
seven, usually five or six, of a clay colour, so thickly clouded with 
minute pale-brown spots as to seem of a uniform brownish tinge. 
There are frequently thin black lines on the larger end. 
