JAYS. 



525 



The true and typical jays belong to the genus Garruhcs, which is confined to the 

 Palrearctic reoion, beinu; one of its most characteristic inhabitants. Most of the 



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species are moulded upon the European species ( (irnilnx glandarius), figured in our 

 cut, and several of them are but sliirht modifications of this well-known and beautiful 



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bird. Its general color is a delicate vinaceous gray ; on the head it has an erectile 

 black-spotted crest, and the rump is pure white; but its chief ornaments are the wing- 



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FIG. 259. Cyanocitta diademata, Mexican long-crested jay. 



coverts, which are black, exquisitely barred with white and azure-blue. The draw- 

 ing shows this professional nest-robber in the act of killing an unfortunate nestling. 

 Like the other members of the family the jays ;ire omnivorous, but they are especially 

 fond of eggs and young birds, and may be regarded as eminently injurious, though in 

 spring they consume a number of insects to atone for their sins of stealing fruit and 

 berries in the autumn. 



Our familiar blue-jays (Cyanocitta) are quite nearly related to the above, and 



