FLORIDA JAY. 
231 
East Florida. In my late tour through the lower parts 
of Georgia and West Florida, protracted to the middle of 
March, I saw none of these birds, and at the approach of 
of winter, they even retire to the south of St. Augustine, 
as Mr. Ord did not meet with this Jay until about the 
middle of February , from that time, however they were 
seen daily, flying low, and hopping through the luxuri- 
ant thickets, or peeping from the dark branches of the 
live-oaks, which adorn the outlet of the St. Juan. They 
appear to possess the usual propensities of the subgenus, 
being quarrelsome, active, and garrulous. Their voice is 
less harsh than that of the common Blue Jay, and they have 
a variety of notes, some of which, probably imitations, are 
said to have a resemblance to the song of the Thrush, 
and the call of the common Jay. 
According to Audubon, the nest of this species is form- 
ed of a few dry sticks, so slightly interwoven as readily 
to admit the light through their interstices. It is then 
lined with fibrous roots. The eggs, 4 to 6, are of a light 
olive, marked with irregular blackish dashes. They 
raise only a single brood in the season. Their food is 
very similar to that of the other species, namely, berries, 
fruits, mast, and insects ; it likewise collects snails from 
the marshy grounds, feeds largely on the seeds of the 
sword palmetto ; and in the manner of the Titmouse it 
secures its food between its feet, and breaks it into pieces 
previous to swallowing. Like other species of the genus, 
it destroys the eggs and young of small birds, despatching 
the latter by repeated blows on the head. It is also 
easily reconciled to the cage, and feeds on fresh or dried 
fruits, and various kinds of nuts. Their attempts at 
mimickry in this state are very imperfect. 
The length of this species is about 11J inches, and nearly 14 in 
alar extent. Head, neck above, and on the sides, with the wings 
