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Perisoreus canadensis.
1889. Maine.
L. Umbagog
During September we observed them on only three occasions,
on each of which two or three birds were seen in or near swam-py evergreen woods. Through October they were seen almost daily, but in nothing like the numbers of the Blue-Jays. After the leaves fell, they were met with chiefly about, openings, pastures, etc., hunting apparently for grass-hoppers, often going out into the fields several hundred yards. They were also frequently observed among stubs along the shore of the lake Early in October, two individuals appeared near our camp. For a week or more they were shy, but rather, apparently suspicious, keeping out of sight as much as possible, and not approaching the camp nearer than thirty or forty yards. By degress they became more familiar, and by the middle of the month they showed the utmost boldness, alighting on the table eating out of the dishes, visiting the store tent, hopping into boxes, kettles etc., in their search for food. For about two weeks we fed them generously with all sorts of refuse from our table, placing this in one spot. After they had become accustomed to our presence, they spent the greater part of each day in carrying food back into the woods, coming sometimes together, but usually alternately every two or three minutes, filling their throats and bills to the utmost capacity, then by short flights, passing out of sight. They seemed to prefer baked beans to any other food which we had to offer them, and next to beans oat meal. They would take bread or cracker when nothing else offered, carrying pieces of large size in their bills, after having stuffed their throats with smaller fragments. They did not seem to care for meal when the things just mentioned could be had. Of baked beans they regularly took four at one load, three in the throat and one held in the bill.. Sometimes they would eat a little before starting off with the load, but I rarely saw them do this. They worked with great persistency during the entire day, but they did not seem to be particularly early risers, for they did not appear at the camp until about sunrise, nor were they ever seen much after sunset. They also stayed away during the rainy weather or at least when it was raining at all heavily, but during a protracted rainy spell, they took advantage of every interval when the rain ceased falling, and made as many trips as possible before it began again. The guides say that they do not like to get their plumage wet and that if it becomes very wet, they are unable to fly.
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