Читать книгу The Natural History of Cage Birds - Bechstein Johann Matthäus - Страница 21

Corvus Caryocatactes, Linnæus; Le Casse-noix, Buffon; Der Tannenbeher, Bechstein

Its length is twelve inches, of which the tail measures four and three quarters; the wings, when folded, reach the middle. The beak and feet are black; the iris is reddish brown. Though speckled like the starling, its general colour is blackish brown, lighter above, and darker underneath the body. The tail feathers are black, but white at the tip.

The general colour of the female is a redder brown than that of the male.

Habitation. – In its wild state it inhabits, during summer, the depth of woods, near which there are meadows and springs, and it does not quit this retreat till autumn, when it frequents those places where it can find acorns, beech-mast, and nuts. During hard winters it may sometimes be seen on the high road, seeking its food amongst the horse-dung.

In the house it is kept like a jay.

Food. – In its wild state, having a very strong beak, it can open the cones of the pine and fir, peel the acorns and beech-mast, and break the nut-shells. It also eats different sorts of berries, but prefers animal food and insects, in short, any thing it can get.

In confinement it must be fed like the jay; but it is more easily tamed, and accustomed to use different words. It is so fond of animal food, that if a live jay were thrown into its cage it would kill it and eat it in a quarter of an hour; it will even eat whole squirrels which have been shot, and which other small birds of prey fly from with disgust.

Breeding. – Its nest, placed in a hollow tree, generally contains five or six eggs, with transverse brown streaks scattered on a dark olive grey ground. The young are reared on meat.

Mode of Taking. – It may be taken in autumn by a noose, hanging service berries to it; success is more sure if some nuts be put near. It may also be taken in the water-trap.

Attractive Qualities. – Its actions are as amusing as those of a shrike; it imitates the voice of many animals, and chatters as much as the jay. To judge from the form of its tongue, it seems possible to teach it to speak, if attempted when young.