166 
CYANOCITTA FL GRID A NA. 
approach them quite closely, but when one or two are shot the survivors instantly disap¬ 
pear. Then it is very difficult to catch sight of them, for they are very expert in conceal¬ 
ing themselves, or rather they are expert in keeping a safe distance between themselves 
and their enemy. They will glide through the bushes with remarkable rapidity, never 
once showing themselves, or if they have an open space to cross dart over it, not in flocks, 
but singly, and, plunging into the next thicket, they will be at once lost to view. It 
requires considerable tact to obtain more than three or four out of one community the same 
day, the best way being to conceal oneself and, by imitating their cries, attract them. 
They are very inquisitive and, when bent upon investigating any object, will forget their 
usual caution and venture quite near, muttering in a low tone to their companions who 
will answer and they will converse in a similar manner to that practiced by the Blue 
Jays. 
They are of quite a compassionate disposition for, when one of their companions is 
wounded, they will evince by their frantic movements and cries the utmost sympathy for 
its misfortune. At one time when I had disabled some Parakeets, several Jays evidently 
attracted by their cries, gathered around and uttered a singular harsh note which I had 
never heard before. Shortly after, as I was looking for Ducks in some small ponds near a 
plantation, not far from Lake Biersford, my attention was attracted by hearing this partic¬ 
ular grating cry which was repeated several times. Looking in the direction from which 
the sound came I was surprised to see a Florida Jay clinging to the flanks of a cow. As 
this was to me a new feature in the history of these birds, I anxiously watched the pair for 
further developments. After a moment the Jay jumped upon a branch near but almost 
instantly alighted upon the side of the animal and appeared to be picking something from 
her skin. This was evidently agreeable to the cow, for she stretched out her head in a 
way peculiar to these quadrupeds when they are being caressed by their companions. 
The bird maintained its position by grasping the shaggy hair with its feet and in this 
way moved completely under its large friend. Wishing to obtain a closer view of this 
procedure, I approached, when the cow which was one of these half wild animals found in 
Florida, perceived me and started away upon the run, brushing the bird off in her rapid pas¬ 
sage through the bushes. It alighted on a small tree when I shot it and, upon examining 
the contents of its stomach, found that it was filled with ticks or jiggers which infest the 
skin of all quadrupeds in this section of Florida. Thus the apparently strange companion¬ 
ship of the two animals was explained and it occurred to me that, as the Jay was probably 
accustomed to associate with deer for a similar purpose, the loud cry which I heard was 
intended as a note of warning to its friend for the bird was aware of my presence, but 
the cow was not sufficiently well posted to understand it as she was, in a measure, domestica¬ 
ted whereas the wilder animals being always exceedingly wary, would have comprehended 
at once that the Jay perceived an enemy. I afterwards saw some others similarly engaged, 
so concluded that it was a regular habit. 
The Florida Jays breed in the scrub in communities, and I have seen many of their 
nests in the winter but was not fortunate enough to obtain one with eggs. They lay 
quite late in the season, about the first of May, and at that time are very assiduous in 
