THE JAY 
with their mother for several weeks. They are 
taught, no doubt, all sorts of clever and cunning 
ways of finding food for themselves. The eggs of the 
Thrush are much enjoyed by the young Jays. 
One may be sure, too, that their mother 
teaches them to be wary, and to keep a quick eye 
for strangers. She teaches them to cry Kak ! 
Kak ! ” whenever an enemy appears, be it man or 
hawk or stoat. Because of this cry, which sounds 
like the tearing of linen, the Jay acts as a sort of 
watch dog, and warns all wild creatures in the woods. 
The little ones have no sweet song to learn, 
although, when thinking of building the nest, the 
father and mother make soft pleasant noises. 
The Jay is easily tamed, and learns to say many 
words. He seems to be fond of having a practical 
joke at times, for it is his habit to hide himself under 
leaves where small birds are gathered together, and 
then, when they are enjoying themselves in their own 
simple way, he will suddenly give them a terrible 
fright by screaming out like a Hawk. The poor 
little birds will scatter themselves in a moment, and 
then the mischievous Jay gives a cackle that sounds 
exactly like a rude laugh. 
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