228 
OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 
The worst trait of his appetite, however, is his relish for 
the eggs of other birds, in quest of which he may fre- 
quently be seen prowling, and with a savage cruelty he 
sometimes also devours the callow young, spreading the 
plaint of sorrow and alarm wherever he flits. The whole 
neighbouring community of little birds, assembled at the 
cry of distress, sometimes, however, succeed in driving 
off the ruthless plunderer, who, not always content with 
the young, has been seen to attack the old, though with 
dubious success ; but to the gallant and quarrelsome King- 
bird, he submits like a coward, and driven to seek shel- 
ter, even on the ground, from the repeated blows of his 
antagonist, sneaks off, well contented to save his life. 
The Blue Jay often builds his nest in the cedar, and 
sometimes on an orchard tree, displaying little art in its 
construction, forming it of twigs and other coarse materials, 
and lining it with the fibres of roots. The eggs, about 5, 
are of a dull olive, and spotted with brown. He is par- 
ticularly cautious to make his visits to the spot as silent 
and secret as possible. Although a few of these birds 
are seen with us nearly through the winter, numbers, no 
doubt, make predatory excursions to milder regions, so 
that they appear somewhat abundant at this season in the 
Southern States ; yet they are known to rear their young 
from Canada, to South Carolina, so that their migrations, 
may be nothing more than journeys from the high-lands 
towards the warmer and more productive sea-coast, or 
eastern frontier. 
The Jay is 11 inches in length. The crest is pale bine. A narrow 
line of black runs along the frontlet, rising on each side higher than 
the eye, but not extending over it. A collar of black passes down so 
as to form a crescent on the breast. Back and upper parts of the neck 
of a fine light purple, in which blue predominates. Chin, cheeks, 
throat, and belly, white, with some blue, except in the last. Greater 
wing-coverts rich blue. Coverts and secondaries barred with cres- 
