steller's jay. 229 



cents of black, and tipt with white. Tail of 12 feathers, long, and 

 wedged, of a glossy bright blue, marked at small intervals with trans- 

 verse curves of black, each feather, except the 2 middle darker ones, 

 being tipt with white. Breast and sides under the wings, greyish 

 white, tinged with vinaceous. Mouth, tongue, bill, legs, and claws 

 black. Iris hazel. 



STELLER'S JAY. 



{Corvus Stelleri, Gmelin. Bonap. Am. Orn. ii. p. 44. pi. 13. fig. 1.) 



Sp. Gharact. — Crested ; blue ; head and neck blackish ; seconda- 

 ries and tail-feathers slightly banded with black, tail rounded. 



This beautiful Jay was first obtained by the naturalist 

 Steller, when Behring' s crew landed upon the northwest 

 coast of America ; it has also been found at Nootka Sound, 

 and contiguous to the Oregon, or Columbia river, and 

 probably extends its residence along the American coast 

 as far as California, and the contiguous table land, as a 

 specimen has likewise been received from Mexico. Of 

 its habits and manners nothing is yet known. 



This species is more than 12 inches long. The crest, head, and 

 neck deep brownish black ; the feathers on either side the front 

 slightly tipped with azure ; neck and upper part of the back lighter 

 brown than the head, lower part of the back becoming light blue, as 

 well as the rump and upper tail-coverts. Below, from the neck, blue. 

 4th, 5th, and 6th primaries nearly equal and longest ; outer wing- 

 coverts and secondaries blue, faintly crossed with obsolete blackish 

 lines. Primaries dark dusky, and except the outer ones, at tip, are 

 edged or tinged v/ithblue. Tail slightly rounded, 5^ inches long, of 

 a deep glossy azure, with faint traces of bars. Bill and feet black. 



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