. The popular natural history . Zoology. 328 THE J A Y. bait, and it is a curious fact that the Jay does not seem to be aware of the right season for eggs, and suspects no guile even when it finds a nest full of fine eggs in the depth of winter. It also eats caterpillars, moths, beetles, and various similar insects preferring the soft, fat, and full-bodied species to those of a more siei dcr shape. Fruits and berries form a considerable portion of the autumnal lood of this bird, and it occasionally makes great havoc in the cherry orchaids, slipping in quietly at the early dawn, accompanied by
. The popular natural history . Zoology. 328 THE J A Y. bait, and it is a curious fact that the Jay does not seem to be aware of the right season for eggs, and suspects no guile even when it finds a nest full of fine eggs in the depth of winter. It also eats caterpillars, moths, beetles, and various similar insects preferring the soft, fat, and full-bodied species to those of a more siei dcr shape. Fruits and berries form a considerable portion of the autumnal lood of this bird, and it occasionally makes great havoc in the cherry orchaids, slipping in quietly at the early dawn, accompanied by its mate and young family, and stripping the branches of the bark and finest fruit. The kitchen garden also suffers severely from the attacks of the Jay, which has a great liking for young peas and beans. It also eats chestnuts, nuts, and acorns, being so fond of the last-mentioned fruit as to have received the title of glandarius, meaning " a lover of ; Sometimes it becomes rrjore re- fined in its taste, and eats the flower of several cruciferous plants, vphich, according to Mudie, it plucks slowly and carefully, petal by petal. The nest of the Jay is a flattish kind of edifice, constructed of sticks, grass, and roots, the sticks acting as the foundations, and a rude superstructure of the softer substances being placed upon them. It is always situated at a con- siderable elevation from the ground. There are gene- rally four or five eggs, and the bird mostly brings up two broods m the year. In size, the Jay equals a rather large pigeon; and the colouring of its plum- age is very attractive. The general tint of the upper part of the body is light reddish brown, with a perceptible purple tinge, varying in in- tensity in different specunens. The primary wing-coverts are bright azure, banded with jetty black, and form a most conspicuous orna- ment on the sides as the bird sits with closed wings. The head is decorated with a crest, which can be raised or lowered at
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
