COKVID.E — THE CROWS. 97- 



thoroughly that two or three years afterwards not a worm was to be seen 

 in that neighborhood ; and more recently he has searched for it in muu, in 

 order to rear cabinet specimens of the motli. 



The Jay builds a strong coarse nest in tlio liraucli of some I'orest or or- 

 chard tree, or even in a low bush. It is formed of twigs rudely but stronoU- 

 interwoven, and is lined with dark fibrous roots. The eggs are usually five, 

 and rarely six in number. 



The eggs of tiiis species are usually of a roundiMl-i.nal shajie, olituse, and 

 of very equal size at either end. Their ground-color is a brownish-olive, 

 varying in depth, and occasionally an olive-drab. They are sparingly spotted 

 witli darker olive-brown. In size they vary from 1.05 to 1.2U inches in 

 length, and in breadth from .82 to .88 of au inch. Tlieir average size is 

 about 1.15 by .80 of an inch. 



Cyaniira stelleri, Swainson. 



STELLEE'S JAY. 



Corvus stelUri, Gmelin, Syst. Xat. I, ir&S, 370. — Lath. Ind. Orn. I, 1790, 158.— 

 Palla.s, Zoog. Rosso-As. I, 1811, 393. — Bonap. Zobl. Jour. Ill, 1827, 49. — Ib. 

 Suppl. Syn. 1828, 433. —Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 45-3, pi. cccl.xii. Garruhis 

 StelUri, Vieillot, Diet. XII, 1817, 481. —Bonap. Am. Orn. II, 1828, 44, pi. xiii. — 

 NuTTALi,, Man. I, 1832, 229. — AuD. Syn. 1839, 154. — Ib. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 107, 

 pi. ccxxx (not of Swainson, F. Bor.-Am. ?). Cyanurm stelleri, Swainson, F. Bor.- 

 Am. II, 1831, 495, App. Pirn stelleri, Waoler, Syst. Av. 1827, Pica, Ko. 10. 

 Cyanocorax stelleri, BoN. List, 1838. FiNscH, Abli. Nat. Ill, 1872, 40 (Alaska). 

 Cfyanoeitta stelleri, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1851, 221. Newberry, P. R. R. Rep. VI, iv, 

 1857, 85. Cijanogarrulus stelleri, Bonap. Conspectus, 1850, 377. Steller's Crou; Pen- 

 nant, Arctic Zobl. II, Sp. 139. Lath. Syn. I, 387. Cyamtra s. Baird, Birds N. 

 Am. 1858, 581 (in part). Lord, Pr. R. A. Inst. IV, 122 (British Columbia ; nest). 

 — Dall& Bannister, Tr. Chic. Ac. I, 1869, 486 (Alaska). —Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 

 1870, 298 (in part). 



Sp. Char. Cre.st about one third longer than the bill. Fifth quill longest; second 

 about equal to the secondary quills. Tail graduated ; lateral feathers about .70 of an 

 inch shortest. Head and neck all round, and forepart of breast, dark broWnish-black. 

 Back and lesser wing-coverts blackish-brown, the scapulars glossed with blue. Under 

 j)arts, rump, tail-coverts, and wings greenish-blue ; exposed surfaces of lesser quills dark 

 indigo-bhie ; tertials and ends of tail-feathers rather obsoletely banded with black. 

 Feathers of the forehead streaked with greenish-blue. Length, about 13.00; wing, 5.85; 

 tail, 5.85; tarsus, 1.75 (1,021). 



Hab. Pacific coast of North America, from the Columbia River to Sitka ; east to St. 

 Mary's Mission, Rocky Mountains. 



Habits. Dr. Suckley regarded Steller's Jay as probably tlie most al)nn- 

 dant bird of its size in all the wooded country between the Eocky Mountains 

 and the Pacific. He describes it as tame, loquacious, and jTOSsessed of the 

 most impudent curiosity. It is a hardy, tough bird, and a constant winter 

 resident of Washington Territory. It is remarkable for its varied cries and 



■/- 



