30 
CAGE-BIRDS. 
screaming of tlie hawk. Indeed, in the latter performance it seems to take 
an especial delight, and, true to the mischievous character of the family, will 
sometimes break out into the loud scream of the hawk, to be immediately 
followed by the tiny wailing of a bird in distress, at once putting all the 
little songsters in the neighborhood into terrible commotion. 
The negro slaves in the Southern States regard this bird with singular 
superstition. They believe the jay is the special agent of the dark gentle¬ 
man below, and that it carries all manner of slanderous tales to him, es¬ 
pecially concerningniggers,” and also supplies the fuel to burn them 
with. Hence they are regarded with deadly animosity by the blacks. 
Says Webber, “When I was a boy, I caught many of them in traps 
during the snows, and the negro-boys, who generally accompanied me on my 
rounds to the traps, always begged eagerly for the jay birds we captured to 
be surrendered to them, and the next instant their necks were wwung, 
amidst shouts of laughter.” 
As to diet, the blue jay is not a strict vegetarian, but devours more ani¬ 
mal food than any thing else. Still it is very partial to fruit and nuts, as 
the agriculturist often finds to his cost. It will, if captured young, become 
very domesticated and attached to its owner, and will readily learn to talk, 
which acquisition it is very fond of displaying to strangers. 
THE CROW. 
This is an amusing fellow, who is frequently caught when young, and 
tamed. He has a great many amusing tricks, and may be taught a few 
w r ords, with patience. He is a great thief, however, and, like the English 
magpie, hides many trifles in out-of-the-way places. He is fed on corn 
and peas, with occasional scraps of raw meat. The crow, jay, mocking¬ 
bird, and oriole are all mimics, and to some degree talkers, but in the 
latter respect they w r ill not compare with the parrot tribe, w r hich we will 
hasten to describe. 
MEDITATION. 
