PASSERES — CORVID.E — GARRULUS. 129 



FAMILY CORVIDJE. 



Bill robust, nearly straight, compressed, convex ; the edges sharp with a slight sinus : base 

 with incumbent porrect feathers. Nostrils basal, roundish, patulous, covered by reversed 

 slender feathers. Tongue acute and bifid at the tip. Tarsus compressed, with about 

 eight large scutellce. Toes separated almost to the base. Claws rather large, acute, 

 canaliculate beneath. Wings subelongated. Tail of twelve broad feathers. 



GENUS GARRULUS. Brisson. 



Head with erectile feathers. Bill rather short, straight, rather compressed, pointed. Nostrils 

 basal, elliptical. Wings rather short : first quill very short ; fourth and fifth longest. Tail 

 long, rounded, almost cuneate. Colors brilliant, with more or less of blue. 



THE BLUE JAY. 



Garrtjlus cristatus. 

 plate xxv. fig. 54. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Cotvus cristatus, LiNNius. Pennant, Arct. Zoology, Vol. 2, p. 249. Wilson, Am, Orn. Vol. 1, p. 11, pi. I, 

 fig. 1. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2. p. 58. Ndttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 224, 

 figure. Auddbon, fol. pi. 102 ; Birds of Am. Vol. 4, p. 110, pi. 231. Peabody, Birds of 

 Mass. p. 287. 



Cyanocorax id- Bonaparte, Geog. and Comp. List. p. 27. 



Garrulus cristatus. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 153. 



Characteristics. Blue : head much crested ; beneath whitish, with a black collar. Wings, 

 coverts and tail transversely barred with black. Length, 12 inches. 



Description. Feathers of the head elongated, oblong, rising into a high crest. Tail long, 

 wedge-shaped. 



Color. Above light purplish blue. A narrow line of black runs along the frontlet, rising 

 on each side higher than the eye, but not extending over it. Mouth, tongue, bill, legs and 

 claws black. Chin, cheeks, throat and belly white, with faint bluish. Wings and tail rich 

 blue, barred with transverse curves of black ; each feather of the tail, except the two middle 

 ones, tipped with white. A band round the neck, black. Irides hazel. 



Length, 11*0 -12-0. Alar spread, 14-0. 



This familiar and elegant bird is common throughout the United States. It lays four or 

 five dull olive eggs spotted with brown. It is exceedingly mischievous ; but as it rarely 

 appears except in small numbers, its injuries are of little moment. It feeds on chesnuts, 

 acorns, corn, cherries, large insects, caterpillars, and in times of scarcity has been known to 

 feed on carrion. It is also fond of the eggs of the smaller birds, and will not hesitate to 

 devour the callow young. It is found from Texas to the 56th parallel of north latitude. In 

 this State, it is observed throughout the year. 



[Fauna — Part 2.] 17 



