Blue Jay by John James Audubon art print

An archival premium Quality art print of the Blue Jay by John James Audubon for his ornithology book, The Birds of America for sale by Brandywine General Store. These beautifully colored blue birds were plate or picture number 102 in the first Havell edition of this ornithology masterpiece. This high quality picture show a male and two female blue jays eating eggs they have stolen from another bird nest, all located in a tree with a trumpet vine, which is shown in full bloom. By the description that Mr. Audubon gives of these mischievous birds, I don't believe he thought to highly of them. Garrulus Cristatus - Audubon says of the Blue Jay - "Reader, look at the plate in which are represented three individuals of this beautiful species,--rogues though they be, and thieves, as I would call them, were it fit for me to pass judgment on their actions. See how each is enjoying the fruits of his knavery, sucking the egg which he has pilfered from the nest of some innocent Dove or harmless Partridge! Who could imagine that a form so graceful, arrayed by nature in a garb so resplendent, should harbour so much mischief;--that selfishness, duplicity, and malice should form the moral accompaniments of so much physical perfection! These Jays are plentiful in all parts of the United States. In Louisiana, they are so abundant as to prove a nuisance to the farmers, picking the newly planted corn, the peas, and the sweet potatoes, attacking every fruit tree, and even destroying the eggs of pigeons and domestic fowls...." Audubon bird print #102