BLUE JAY. 
195 
“drop abundance of seed in their flight over fields, hedges, and 
“ by-fences, where they alight to deposit then^in the post holes, 
“ &c. It is remarkable what numbers of young trees rise up in 
“ fields and pastures after a wet winter and spring. These birds 
“ alone are capable, in a few years time, to replant all the cleared 
“ lands.”* 
The Blue Jays seldom associate in any considerable numbers, 
except in the months of September and October, when they 
hover about in scattered parties of from forty to fifty, visiting the 
oaks, in search of their favourite acorns. At this season they 
are less shy than usual; and keep chattering to each other in a 
variety of strange and querulous notes. I have counted fifty -three, 
but never more, at one time; and these generally following each 
other in straggling irregularity from one range of woods to 
another. Yet we are told by the learned Dr. Latham, and his 
statement has been copied into many respectable European 
publications, that the Blue Jays of North America “ often unite 
“ into flocks of twenty thousand at least! which alighting on a 
field of ten or twelve acres, soon lay waste the whole. ”t If this 
were really so, these birds would justly deserve the character he 
gives them, of being the most destructive species in America. But 
I will venture the assertion, that the tribe Oriolus phoeniceiis, 
or red-winged Blackbirds, in the environs of the river Delaware 
alone, devour and destroy more Indian corn than the whole 
Blue Jays of North America. As to their assembling in such 
immense multitudes, it may be sufficient to observe, that a flock 
of Blue Jays of twenty thousand, would be as extraordinary an 
appearance in America, as the same number of Magpies or Cuc- 
koos would be in Britain. 
It has been frequently said, that numbers of birds are com- 
mon to tbe United States and Europe; at present, however, I 
am not certain of many. Comparing the best descriptions and 
delineations of the European ones with those of our native 
* Letter of Mr. William Bartram to the Author. 
t SjTiopsis of Bh’ds, vol. i, p. 387. See also Encyclope^a Britannica, art, 
Corvus. 
