The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1897-06-19
A. Feathered Criminal.

idernists what bird they shall take for
their fist subject, my reply to this ques.
tion is let taxidermy alone, do not de.
stIoy the birds; but il you will mount
birds begin with the Blue JAY" This
handsome dasbing fellow is one OF the
few birds we have who does almo 4 as
much harm as he Goes GO d. lie will
eat almost any hin &, rot hesit atm, even
to dest oy ,oung BIRDS and feed on
them, and he has a fondness for eggs
that is unsuitable, many a pretty nest
has beer oet tro, ed by him. Like most
bullies the jays are towards when alone,
but let band of thess audacious mis-
chief loving fellows get together on a
foraging expe' ition and there is no
limit to thei. courage. l have seen
them attack tie swift winged hawk
merely for the sI ort OF il. worrying the
poor bird till he was glad to get out Of
their reach. Their especial delight,
however. is to catch some lite owl
asleep snl pounce down, striking at
him viciously. The little fellow thus
rudely awakened has hard time of 1t
making brave defence, his little head
moving ssif on a pivot in his efforts 10
ward of the quick cruel blows OF his
tormentoIs. ashley strike at him first on
this SHE then on that, finally COMPEL
ing the little fellow to fly for refuge to
some hole in tree. A few days ago l
found two OF these heartless rsscals ia
an elm having a lively quarrel with
each other. they had evidently been up
to some mischief which 1 decided to
investigate by throwing a s.o,e up into
the tree. when they became frightened
and dropped their spoil, which proved
TO / e young sparrow they had stolen
from a nest near by. Tie jays are easily
tanned when caught young and readily
learn many interesting tricks Even
talented Miss Polly with all her many
accomplishments rep nds I'D more
readily 10 education. l orce found
nest cortiiIing four young birds which
1 took home and put in a cage. / had
but little trouble in rearing tn ,m feed
ing them with worms, gr:sshoppers
berries ard occasionally bread ard milk
They grew rapidly and 10 the cours, OF
six weeks we're large enough to hop
about and fly up On my shoulder where
they would chirp anJ sco.d or make
love to me as the humor suited them.
One night three OF tLe:e fol oxs got out
OF IL e cage and were carried of by the
rate, co lad hut o.e little chap left.
/ named him Jack, he soon learned 10
come when called. Jack became very
much attached TO me and afforded me
much amusement ard pleasure, he
loved 10 crack parlor matches on his
perch and would take them out OF my
hand one at time carefully, hold them
with one fcot and with a quick stroke
OF his strong bill would make it pop
and blaze up as these matches do, this
pleased him immensely. Jack soon
developed remarkable thieving propensi
ties carrying If and usually hiding any
thing he could find, he was partit ularly
fond OF bright things nails. c,ins. thin
bles, ard trinkets OF all kinds, and il
caught with any thing be could swallow
he would apparently swallow it. But
when had turned away and
taken fer st 'p,, il he thought I was
not watching him, up it would come.
then he would begin Lammerin, away
at it as il lie had no other business but
TO find out WI at The thing vas made of.
He became so tane that I let him fly
about the grounds and often be would