The CRESTED BLUE JACKDAW (_Cyanocitta cristata_) is an American species,
with which we are much better acquainted. The shape of this bird is
slender, its beak short, strong, slightly arched, and pointed; the
wings are short, their fourth and fifth quills longer than the rest;
the tail long and decidedly rounded. The plumage is soft and brilliant,
and the feathers upon the head prolonged into a crest. In the male the
predominating colour upon the back is bright blue; the tail-feathers
are surrounded by a narrow dark line, the wing-feathers are tipped
with black; the ends of the secondary quills, the larger feathers of
the wing-covers, and the exterior tail-feathers are white, or of a
greyish-white shade; the sides of the head are pale blue; a line which
commences at the back of the head and passes round the throat is black,
as is also a streak between the eyes; the eye itself is greyish brown,
the beak and feet blackish brown. This species is about eleven inches
long, its breadth sixteen inches, the wing five inches and a quarter, and
the tail five inches.
[Illustration: THE CRESTED BLUE JACKDAW (_Cyanocitta cristata_).]
Notwithstanding the beauty of its appearance, the Blue Jackdaw is
regarded with but little favour in America, where it is found in
great numbers occupying the dense woods or groups of moderately high
trees. It is only migratory from the Northern States, and is elsewhere
numbered among the stationary birds. Wilson calls this species the _Bird
Trumpeter_, from the remarkable sound that it produces when alarmed;
and we learn from other writers that it can imitate the cry of the
Buzzard and Sparrow Falcon to such perfection as frequently to terrify
the smaller feathered denizens of the woods, and raises such an uproar
on perceiving a fox or other enemy as compels the intruder to sneak
quietly away. Its attacks upon the eggs and young of other birds are
extremely merciless; and, indeed, it may be regarded as a most voracious
and destructive bird of prey, which devours not only small quadrupeds,
but will attack very large and powerful members of the feathered tribe
should they be wounded, and thus for the time incapable of resistance;
yet Audubon tells us that the Blue Jackdaw is a most arrant coward, and
that it will often fly before an adversary no stronger than itself. It
obtains its prey rather by extreme craft than by open warfare, for even
Thrushes and other small birds can scare it from their nests, into which,
however, it often manages to steal if left unguarded only for a moment;
it will also attempt to seize young chickens, but is at once baulked of
its purpose if startled by an angry cluck from the hen. Large quantities
of seeds, all kinds of insects, and flesh are also eaten by these birds.
During the autumn the maple, oak, and other similar trees are thickly
covered by swarms of Blue Jackdaws, who not only satisfy their present
wants, but carry off large quantities of seeds or acorns, storing them
up as a provision for the winter, and by this means greatly assist in
spreading the growth of these trees over the face of the country.
[Illustration: THE COMMON JAY (_Garrulus glandarius_).]
The number of broods varies with the district in which the Jackdaws are
found, some breeding but once and others twice in the year; the nest is
formed of twigs and other dry materials, lined with a bed of delicate
fibres, on which, in due season, four or five eggs are deposited; these
latter are olive brown, marked with dark spots. During the time that
the mother is sitting the male employs every precaution to prevent
the discovery of his young family; he visits his mate with the utmost
secrecy, and preserves the strictest silence while in her company. The
young are fed principally upon insects. Nestlings may be easily reared in
confinement, but it is never safe to trust the Blue Jackdaw in an aviary
with other birds, as it is not uncommon, under these circumstances, for
it to destroy its companions one after another. Audubon gives a most
interesting account of an attempt he made to naturalise this species in
Europe, but which unfortunately proved abortive; the birds, about thirty
in number, destined to make the experiment were placed by him in a large
cage, and at first exhibited every symptom of fear, refusing the food
he proffered them, and crouching in the corners of the cage; by the
next day, however, all had regained their usual spirits, and, taking up
seeds of maize in their claws, hammered at them with such hearty good
will that the noise they produced sounded more like a diminutive party
of smiths than the efforts of birds; quarrels seldom occurred, and the
party reached Europe in excellent health and spirits, but had not been
long exposed to the change of climate before they began to be infested
by numerous parasites, and only one survived to reach London. Since this
attempt of the American naturalist many Blue Jackdaws have been brought
to Europe, but in no instance have the efforts to naturalise them proved
successful.