122



James B. Housden — Beeche’s Jay



I was told that in the fall of the year large flocks of this Jay visit

the ranch, in fact so as to become quite a nuisance, fighting for food

with the pigs and fowls ; and it would be no difficulty to catch fifty

of them with the open door and a long string in the fowls’ runs.


They are very restless, constantly on the move prying into this

or that, spending a good portion of their time on the ground twitching

their tails almost constantly.


I found a number of nests of this Jay built in low shrubs about

10 feet from the ground ; nests like deep saucers ; eggs, four to seven

in number, a beautiful spotted green colour.


I have one of these Jays, a most lovely bird and very tame.


I have mentioned in a former number the day I was lost in the

forest in New Mexico. After I had met with an old coloured man

and rested in his cabin, he pointed out the way he thought would take

me to the ranch.


I had walked a very long way when a strange coincidence occurred ;

somewhere from the scrub half a dozen of these Jays flew in front of

me squawking and flapping their wings (something like some of the

birds at home will do in a country lane). I followed on and these

birds continued to fly in front of me. I thought perhaps they might

be flying to the ranch, and this actually proved to be the case, for

after another long walk I came to the wire fence of the ranch.


My base of operation during the month I spent here was the ranch

house, which stood at a most beautiful sub-tropical spot. Sitting

under the trees at a very delightful spot it was quite enjoyable to

watch and listen to the wild life all around. This was quite a paradise

for birds, the study of which day after day was very delightful. It is

an inexhaustible subject and one that one never tires of in this wonderful

country.


My room at the ranch overlooked a small lake ; one could watch

the sun go down behind the hills, mountains, and valley that fringe

the lake in a mingled glory of red and gold. In a few minutes it was

gone below the horizon and darkness came quickly. Hardly had the

sun gone down than the stars began to peep, one after another, and

very soon night birds began to utter cries. A memorable night the

writer would not have missed.



