. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Birds; Natural history; Oiseaux; Sciences naturelles. 384 HABITS OF THE A^IEHICAN BLUE JAY. •: Us adapted for iniitatioii, and tliere is liardly a l)iid of tlie forest whose voice is not mockpil liy tlic Jay witli a, fidelity tliat oven deceives tlie species wliose notes are tlius woitderfully reproduced. Being a bird of some liuinour, it is- greatly delighted liy mimicking tlio scream of a hawk, and the terrified cry of a little hird in distress, thereiiy setting aU tho small birds in a ttinnoil, under the impression that one of their number
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Birds; Natural history; Oiseaux; Sciences naturelles. 384 HABITS OF THE A^IEHICAN BLUE JAY. •: Us adapted for iniitatioii, and tliere is liardly a l)iid of tlie forest whose voice is not mockpil liy tlic Jay witli a, fidelity tliat oven deceives tlie species wliose notes are tlius woitderfully reproduced. Being a bird of some liuinour, it is- greatly delighted liy mimicking tlio scream of a hawk, and the terrified cry of a little hird in distress, thereiiy setting aU tho small birds in a ttinnoil, under the impression that one of their number has fust been carried off by a hawk. The Blue Jay attacks owls whenever he meets with them, and never can see a hawk without giving the alarm, and rushing to the attack, backed up by other Jays, who never fail to offer their assistance to their comrade. ()ften they will assemble in some numbers and buffet the unfortunate hawk with such relentless perseverance that they fairly drive him_out of the neighbourhood; liut sometimes the tables are reversed, and the hawk, turning suddenly on his persecutors, snaps up the foremost and boldest, and silently sails away into the thickest covert, bearing his screaming prey in his talons. As the Blue Jay is veiy fond of fruit and seeds, 'it often does great harm to the agriculturist, robbing his fruit-trees in a veiy complete and systematic manner, and doiu" no small amount of harm to the crops. Yet the bird is not without its use, for in replenishing its winter stores, which consist of luits, mast, chestnuts, and similar pn)visions, the Jay drops many of them in its passage, and thus unconsciously succeeds in planting many a nseful tree. One careful ol)server of this bird and its habits says that in a few years' time the Jays alone would replant all the cleared lands. The diet of the Jay is, however, Tiy no means restricted to vegetalile substances, as the bird lives more upon animal than on vegetable food. In the spring and early su
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectnaturalhistory
