124 
THE CANADA JAY. 
ally makes a low chattering, especially when agitated by the prospect of a 
supply of food. It hoards berries, pieces of meat, &c., in hollow trees, or 
between layers of the bark of decaying birches, by which it is enabled to 
pass the winter in comfort, and to rear its young before the snow is off the 
ground, and indeed earlier than any other in the Fur Countries. Its nest is 
concealed with such care, that none of the Indians with whom I spoke on 
the subject had seen it ; but both Hutchins and Hearne inform us, that 
‘it is generally built in a fir tree, of sticks and grass ; the eggs are blue ; 
and the young brood, which are quite black, take to flight by the middle 
of May.”' 
Now, to my eye, the Canada Jay is as elegant in its movements, whether 
perched or on wing, as any other of our Jays, although its apparel is certainly 
very homely. It is joyous and lively at all times, even when, pushed by 
extreme hunger, it approaches the lonely camp of the traveller, with the 
hope of obtaining a share, however small, of his perhaps scanty fare. 
Its range is very extensive, as I have specimens procured by Mr. Town- 
send on the Columbia river, and it has been observed by Dr. Richardson 
as far northward as lat. 65°. The former of these naturalists states that. he 
found “ these birds at the site of Old Fort Astoria, on the Columbia river. 
They were very noisy and active ; the voice is strong and harsh. The 
Indians however say, that they are rarely seen, and that they do not breed 
hereabouts.” Mr. Titian Peale has obtained it in the neighbourhood of 
Philadelphia, and I have the body of one procured there by himself in 
October, 1836- 
The description given in the Fauna Boreali- Americana of the individual 
there represented, agrees in all respects with that of the bird now before 
you, which I saw fed several times by its parent the Canada Jay. The 
differences pointed out as specifically distinctive are merely such as are 
presented by young and old birds of many species. 
Canada Jay, Corvus canadensis , Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. iii. p. 33. 
Corvus canadensis, Bonap. Syn., p. 58. 
Garrulus canadensis, Whisky- Jack, Swains, and Ricli.F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 295, 
Garrulus brachyriiynchus, Short-billed Jay, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., 
vol. ii. p. 296. Young. 
Garrulus canadensis, Canada Jay , Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 232. 
Short-billed Jay, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 599. 
Canada Jay, Corvus canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 53 ; vol. v. p. 208. 
Upper parts dull leaden-grey ; lower dull yellowish white ; forehead yel- 
lowish-white; hind part of the head and neck greyish-black; throat and band 
passing round the neck, greyish-white ; secondary quills and tail-feathers 
