226 
OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 
musical, so as to be scarcely heard beyond the thick 
branches where he sits concealed ; but, as soon as dis- 
covered, he bursts out into notes of rage and reproach, 
accompanying his voice by jerks and actions of temerity 
and defiance. Indeed the Jay of Europe, with whom our 
beau agrees entirely in habits, is so irascible and violent 
in his movements, as sometimes to strangle himself in the 
narrow fork of a branch from which he has been found 
suspended. * Like the European species, he also exhibits 
a great antipathy to the Owl, and by his loud and savage 
vociferation soon brings together a noisy troop of all the 
busy birds in the neighbourhood. To this garrulous at- 
tack the night-wanderer has no reply, but a threatening 
stare of indifference ; and, as soon as opportunity offers, 
he quietly slips from his slandering company. Advan- 
tage, in some countries, is taken of this dislike for the 
purpose of catching birds ; thus the Owl being let out of 
a box, sometimes makes a hoot, which instantly assem- 
bles a motley group, who are then caught by liming the 
neighbouring twigs on which they perch. In this gossip 
the Jay and Crow are always sure to take part, if within 
sight or hearing of the call , and are thus caught or des- 
troyed at will. The common Jay is even fond of imitating 
the harsh voice of the Owl and the noisy Kestril. I have 
also heard the Blue Jay mock with a taunting accent the 
Ice oo, lei, oo, or quailing of the Red-Shouldered Hawk. 
Wilson likewise heard him take singular satisfaction in 
teasing and mocking the little American Sparrow Hawk,f 
and imposing upon him by the pretended plaints of a 
wounded bird, in which frolic several would appear to 
join, until their sport sometimes ended in sudden con- 
sternation, by the Hawk, justly enough, pouncing on one 
of them as his legitimate and devoted prey. 
* See Gesner de Avibus , p, 702. 
f Falco Sparverius. 
