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PASSERIFORMES 
brownish coloration and in having the feathers of the back distinctly white-shafted. In 
Alaska and perhaps adjacent parts of the Yukon the Alaska Jay (Ie Geai de P Alaska) 
Perisoreus canadensis fumifrons has been recognized. 
If the other jays are clownish, one scarcely knows how to characterize 
the Canada Jay. It has all the family characteristics in an exaggerated 
form, but seems to lack the keen appreciation of its own humour that the 
others possess. Its entire lack of self consciousness or pose is notable, and 
it does the most impudent things with an air of the most matter of fact 
innocence. No sooner is the camper’s fire lighted than the Whiskey Jack 
is on hand for any good thing that may come its way. Almost before the 
echo of the rifle has died on the hills, he is in at the death to share in the 
offal of the game. Food on the camp table, bacon in the frying pan, or 
even soap by the wash dish are never safe from it, and if any little thing 
is missing in camp, its absence can well be blamed on the Whiskey 
Jack. The tent has to be tightly closed against its sharp eyes and inquis- 
itive bill. Yet it does little real harm, its confiding presence is always 
welcomed, and its petty pilferings usually laughed at. Few wild things 
have as many human friends in the woods as this bird. It probably has 
the usual Jay fondness for eggs and young birds, but it does not flaunt 
its vices in our faces, and when man is present, devotes all its attention 
to salvaging waste scraps from camp. Though always present about 
camp, its total numbers are never large, and its population seems to consist 
of single families evenly scattered over the wildest country. A peculiar 
thing about it is that, whereas other jays increase rapidly under cultivated 
conditions, the Canada Jay shrinks from civilization. Lonely places are its 
favourite haunts, and as soon as the temporary camp becomes a permanent 
settlement, it deserts the neighbourhood and retires to more secluded 
localities, or possibly suffers the fate resultant on too great confidence, for 
often civilized man is more intolerant of wild life than arc more primitive 
hunters and trappers. 
Economic Status. No definite study has been made of the food of this 
species. Its habits, when under observation, show it to be omnivorous; 
probably its food is much similar to that of the other jays, but its habitat 
removes it from close contact with man, and its comparatively small 
numbers make its effects economically unimportant. 
477. Blue Jay. le geai bleu. Cyanocilta crislala. L, 11-74. Plate XLVIII B. A 
bird about the size of a robin, sky blue on back, wings, and tail; a conspicuous, pointed 
blue crest. Nearly white below; and a black necklace 
draped around neck and over the upper breast (figure 
402). 
Distinctions. Large size, general sky-blue colour, 
and prominent, upstanding crest. Not likely to be 
confused with /my other species, except SteOer’s Jay, 
which is very different, being much darker all over, with 
a black head, and deep blue back and underparts. 
Field Marks. Distinctions as above, and character- 
istic cries and calls, the most common of which is a loud, 
11 Jay - - jay - - jay,” another resembles the squeak of a 
rusty lunge, but the bird is a mimic, and acquires many Figure 402 
strange notes. Blue Jay; scale, about j. 
Nesting. Nest of twigs and rootlets in trees. 
Distribution. Eastern North America, from the northern coniferous forest south 
to the Gulf of Mexico. In Canada, west to the foothills. 
SUBSPECIES. The Blue Jay that occupies most of the continent, except Florida, 
the type form, Cyanocilta cristata crislala. 
