r J A Y.
OJXBULUS GLAND JEWS.
IN none of my notes can I dud any record of having observed the .lay further uortb than Perthshire \ and in
that county I met with it on but feiv occasions. In the south of Scotland it is less scans1 , but, according to
my own experience, its numbers an- kepi well within hounds. Thmughoul ling-laud it is to be found in most
wooded districts, more plentiful perhaps in the southern than in other portiuns of the country. In Middlesex
several pairs of Jays used to frequent some thick coverts about halfway between London ami llnrrow-ou-die-
Ilill. These woods must ban' been a happy resort for vermin in those days (now about thirty years ago), as,
in addition lo I he Jays (\i Inch were abundant , both Magpies and Crows nested in the district, while polecats
and stoats wen? by no means scarce.
The well-known destructive habits of this species render it a particularly hateful object in the eyes of most
game-keepers ; and as the bird is easily attracted by means of eggs as bait, its numbers are now year by year
rapidly diminishing. I have trapped hundreds early in the soring, in Sussex, before the woods had broken out
in leaf. A small platform or staging, constructed by broken brunches, H as formed, tit the height of about
three feet from the ground, on some bush in an open part of the covert. On this a trap was nmccalcd by
means of litter or dead grass ; and a Thrush's nest placed at one cud completed the very simple but certain
method of capture. Eggs of the Thrush were always, preferable to those of the llb.oUhrd. OHM/.: 1 I 1 heir more
conspicuous colouring; but 1 have used the latter with almost equal success. Magpies MERE also frequently
taken; ami at times an unfortunate squirrel was made prisoner. When placing the traps on the ground, at the
side of a hedgerow or round the outskirts of a wood, I usually baited with the eggs of the lame Pigeon ur
domestic Fowl ; and the Carrion-Crow (and, in one instance, the Haven) was now and then secured, in audition
to the usual list of victims.
An old keeper in my father's service used to declare he shot numbers of Jays by draw tag them lo the spot
where he was eoucealcd by means of a hedgehog. Ilis plan was to tickle the animal's legs by scraping them
with the teeth of a comb ; and the shrill yells the unfortunate heastic uttered during the operation were
supposed to attract the Jays. I distinctly remember being present at some of these performances ; but as it
is now nearly live-aud-thirty years ago, 1 am uncertain what amount of success was met with. 1, however,
still retain a vivid recollection of the large paper bags full of blue feathers from the wings of his victims, which
the poor old fellow stored up with jealous care, regarding them as a sure source of unlimited wealth.
The Jay, I conclude, is stationary all the year in the districts it inhabits; and it is probable that our
native birds receive no additions to their UUIUIMTS from the continent.
The nest is a small collection or rough slicks, neatly lined with librous roots. It is generally placed near
the stem of some small tree, at a height of fruui live to ten feet.