116 
NATURAL IHSTORY 
JAY. 
The Jay is less than the magpie, and re- 
sembles him more in the habits of his life, 
than in the shape and colour of his body. 
Talkative, and ready to imitate all sounds, 
ns in the former, yet he can boast of orna- 
mental colours, which the magpie is deprived 
of. Nothing can, on the pallet of the ablest 
painter, equal the brightness of the chequered 
tablets of white, black, and blue, which adorn 
the sides of his wings. His head is covered 
with feathers, which are moveable at his 
will ; and their motion is expressive of the 
internal affections of the bird, whether he is 
stimulated by fear, anger, or desire. The 
neck, back, breast, and belly, are of a faint 
purple, dashed with grey. The tail is black, 
and the feet are of a pale brown. Like the 
magpie it feeds upon fruits, will kill small 
birds, and is very docile. 
