BLUE JAY. 
7 
without betraying the smallest token of irritation. On the 
contrary, he seems to take pleasure in his little fellow- 
prisoner, allowing her to pick (which she does very gently) 
about his whiskers, and to clean his claws from the minute 
fragments of chestnuts which happen to adhere to them. 
This attachment on the one part, and mild condescension on 
the other, may, perhaps, be partly the effect of mutual 
misfortunes, which are found not only to knit mankind, but 
many species of inferior animals, more closely together ; and 
shews that the disposition of the blue jay may be humanized, 
and rendered susceptible of affectionate impressions, even for 
those birds which, in a state of nature, he would have no 
hesitation in making a meal of. 
He is not only bold and vociferous, but possesses a 
considerable talent for mimicry, and seems to enjoy great 
satisfaction in mocking and teasing other birds, particularly 
the little hawk (F. sparverius ,) imitating his cry wherever he 
sees him, and squealing out as if caught : this soon brings a 
number of his own tribe around him, who all join in the 
frolic, darting about the hawk, and feigning the cries of a 
bird sorely wounded, and already under the clutches of its 
devourer ; while others lie concealed in bushes, ready to 
second their associates in the attack. But this ludicrous farce 
often terminates tragically. The hawk, singling out one of 
the most insolent and provoking, sweeps upon him in an 
unguarded moment, and offers him up a sacrifice to his hunger 
and resentment. In an instant the tune is changed ; all their 
buffoonery vanishes, and loud and incessant screams proclaim 
their disaster. 
Wherever the jay has had the advantage of education from 
man, he has not only shewn himself an apt scholar, but his 
suavity of manners seems equalled only by his art and 
contrivances ; though it must be confessed, that his itch for 
thieving keeps pace with all his other acquirements. Dr 
Mease, on the authority of Colonel Posted, of South Carolina, 
informs me, that a blue jay which was brought up in the 
