. [Collected reprints, 1895-1916. Birds. 14 juniper berries. The raspberries and blackberries found in the stom- achs were the only fruits that might have belonged to cultivated varie- ties, and the quantity was trifling. There is hardly a more useful species than the phoebe about the farm, and it should receive every encouragement. To furnish nesting boxes is unnecessary, as it usually prefers a more open situation, like a shed, or a nook under the eaves, but it should be i^rotected from cats and other marauders. THE BLUB JAY. (CyanocUta cristata.) The blue jay (tig. S) is a common bird of th
. [Collected reprints, 1895-1916. Birds. 14 juniper berries. The raspberries and blackberries found in the stom- achs were the only fruits that might have belonged to cultivated varie- ties, and the quantity was trifling. There is hardly a more useful species than the phoebe about the farm, and it should receive every encouragement. To furnish nesting boxes is unnecessary, as it usually prefers a more open situation, like a shed, or a nook under the eaves, but it should be i^rotected from cats and other marauders. THE BLUB JAY. (CyanocUta cristata.) The blue jay (tig. S) is a common bird of the United States east of the Great Plains, and remains throughout the year in most of its range, although its numbers are somewhat reduced in Avinter in the Northern States. During spring and summer the jay is forced to become an. Via. 8.—Blue jay. industrious hunter for insects, and is not so conspicuous a feature of the landscape as when it roams the country at will after the cares of the nesting season are over. Ornithologists and field observers in general declare that a consider- able portion of its food in spring and early summer consists of the eggs and young of small birds, and some fanners accuse it of stealing corn to an injurious extent in the fall. AN hile there may be some truth in these accusations, they have almost certainly been exaggerated. No doubt many jays hiivo been observed robbing nests qf other birds, but thousands have been seen that were not so engaged. In an investigation of the food of the blue jay 292 stomachs were examined, which showed that animal matter comprised 24 per cent and vegetable matter 7G ])er cent of the bird's diet. So much has been said aboutthe nest-robbing habits of the jay that special search wasmadefor traces of birds or birds' eggs in tlie stomachs, with the result that shells. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance o
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