ALEXANDER WILSON. 
45 
gesticulations, for which the whole tribe of jays are 
so remarkable, that, with some other peculiarities, 
they might have very well justified the great Swe- 
dish naturalist in forming them into a separate 
genus by themselves. 
“ The blue jay builds a large nest, frequently in 
the cedar, sometimes on an apple-tree, lines it with 
dry fibrous roots, and Jays five eggs of a dull olive, 
spotted with brown. The male is particularly care- 
ful of not being heard near the place, making his 
visits as silently and secretly as possible. His 
favourite food is chestnuts, acorns, and Indian corn. 
He occasionally feeds on bugs and caterpillars, and 
sometimes pays a plundering visit to the orchard, 
cherry-rows, and potato-patch; and has been known, 
in times of scarcity, to venture into the barn, through 
openings between the weather-boards. In these 
cases he is extremely active and silent, and, if sur- 
prised in the fact, makes his escape with precipi- 
tation, but without noise, as if conscious of his 
criminality. 
“ Of all birds, he is the most hitter enemy to the 
owl. No sooner has he discovered the retreat of 
one of these, than he summons the whole feathered 
fraternity to his assistance, who surround the glim- 
mering solitaire , and attack him from all sides, 
raising such a shout as may bo heard, in a still day, 
more than half a mile off. When, in my hunting 
excursions, I have passed near this scene of tumult, 
I have imagined to myself that I heard the insult- 
ing party venting their respective charges with all 
