The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-06-11
BLUE JAY HAS
GOOD QUALITIES
Close Observer and Student Finds
That He 10 by No Means as
Bad as He Has Been
Painted.
HELPS IN GARDENING
Eats Many Beetles, Grasshoppers,
Moths and Many Other Insects
That Harm Plants and
Gardens.
HELPS IN GARDENING

Katherine 8. Nicholson writes en-
tertainingly in the Springfield
(Mass.) Republican, about one OF our
feathered friends, as follows:
The bluejay belongs to the same
family as the crow-though he Is as
bright as the crow is Oakland he is
really among the most human of all
the feathered tribe. He Is called
resident" bird because jays remain
in the north even In winter, In small
numbers while the first warm breath
brings them focking back from the
south.
His color is a beautiful blue; his
wings are marked with black ana
wI.te, and a black collar ornaments
his throat; and, as If nature was not
satisfied with all this loneliness, the
tail feathers are tipped with gold,
and sometimes with brilliant red.
The bluejay has been accused by
some of being a great robber, steal
ing the eggs of other birds, and even
their young. but this has never been
proved to the satisfaction Of his ad-
mirers. He has many fine qualities
and does a good turn for his human
friends by eating number OF IN
sects that harm plants. He snaps up
May beetles, grasshoppers, gypsy
moths and sphinx moths which de-
stroy our grapes. and so does his
share of gardening. He is also fonu
of chestnuts, acorns and beechnuts,
and. like the crow, holds his food IN
has feet, striking 1t with his BILL
which is quite equal to cracking
any number of shells.
If you have ever watched nest
full OF young birds you have noticed
the means nature has taught them 10
use for making their feet strong for
perching and grasping their FOOD.
The nest is generally woven loosely
of coarse twigs and roots, with
lining that makes 1t more comfort
able. but does not prevent the young
ones from opening and closing their
toes steadily over the twigs. first one
foot and then the other. keeping up
the motion all day long.
One observer, thinking to help
keep the nest clean for family OF
Young bluejays, placed cotton cloth
In II, and what do you suppose hap
pened? Three Of the little ones died
in a short time for want Of proper
exercise: they had been deprived OF
their gymnasium The fourth, though
he manageable pull through, was de-
form ed. A good lesson against inter-
fering with natures ways. A bird
lust out of the egg treads upon Its
whole foot, even to the heel, until It's
toes become strong enough to sup
port the whole body.
Blueiays, are sociable, living in
flocks except when nesting. They
have a sweet musical note as well
as the harsh call Gay" which we
hear oftener, and they initiate the
calls OF other birds, crying SO exact
ly like the owl that it must be
rather terrifying for mice and other
small creatures.
One writer, who was fond of. study
ing these birds, tells of finding very
old bluejay, so infirm that he could
not take care Of himself. His claws
were too far worn to be of any use,
and he was half blind. Mr.. Krum-
iein SAYS that a number Of other
laws cared for him faithfully, bring
ing food, warning him of danger. and
even leading the old bird to spring
for his bath every day.
Blue Is not uSudl CoiOT among
our native birds. and when we notice
It among the branchhs we may be
sure that either jay or bluebird
is with U.S. The latter. one OF the
first Of our feathered friends to come
back in spring. is as gentle and quiet
as the jay Is saucy and noisy. Unlike
the Jay, he has no crest on his head,
and his breast is red. Bluebirds are
fond of making their nests in holes.