THE STALLING. 
in traps during the snows, and the negro-hoys who generally 
accompanied me on my rounds to the traps, always begged 
eagerly for the jay birds we captured to be surrendered to them, 
and the next instant their necks were wrung, amidst shouts of 
langhter.” 
As to diet, the blue jay is not so strict a vegetarian as our 
own common jay, but devours more animal food than anything 
else. Still it is very partial to fruit and nuts, as the agri- 
culturist often finds to his cost. It will, if captured young, 
become very domesticated and attached to its owner, and will 
readily learn to talk, which acquisition it is very fond of dis- 
playing to strangers. 
% 
CHAPTER IV. 
THE STABLING. 
With the exception, perhaps, of the raven, I know of no bird 
more gifted than the starling. His sagacity is wonderful. He 
can whistle, he can sing, and he can talk. He has his friends 
and his enemies, and is 
not at all slow at mani- 
festing his emotions at 
the sight of one or the 
other. W onderfol stories 
are told of the starling’s 
cleverness and docility, 
and I, myself, was, once 
upon a time, personally 
acquainted with a bird 
of this species whose bi- 
ography would make a 
large and interesting 
volume. I was a very small boy at the time when “ Bob ” was 
“ one of the family.” He was allowed the run of the kitchen, 
and many a time have I had to lament the loss of my bread 
and butter, transfixed and carried off on “ Bob’s ” lead- coloured, 
awl-like beak. Bob was particularly fond of raw, lean beef, 
and no one was more anxious than he for the matutinal ring at 
the bell, and the cry of “ butcher.” He would hop on the maid’s 
the starling. 
