no4 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



In the sliajm nl' the bill aud the shortness of the priiuaries, compared 

 with the broad tertials aud secondaries, there is mucli resemblance to 

 Xantkoura. The nostrils are, however, uncovered, the legs much stouter 

 and shorter, being shorter than the head instead of longer ; the tail-feathers 

 are broader, etc. 



Psilorhinus morio, (Ujay. 



BROWN JAY. 



Pica morio, Wagler, Isis, 18'29, vii, 7il. — In. Isis, 1831, 527. — Voyage de la Favorite, 

 V, 1839, .54 (said to have been killed at Sau Francisco, Cal., by liotta). Psilorhinus 

 morio, Gray, List, genera, 1841, 51. — Boxap. Consp. 1850, 381. — Cab. Mus. Heiu. 

 1851, 226. — Baii;d, Birds N. Am. 1858, 592, pi. Lxriii, f. 1, 2. " Pica fuliginosa, 

 Lksson, Traite d'Orn. 1831, 333." Psilorhinus meximnus, Ruitell, Mus. Senck, 1837, 

 pi. xi, f. 2. 



Sp. Char. Tail much graduated ; the lateral feathers aljout two inches shortest. 



Second quill equal to the secondaries; third 

 and fourth longest. General color dark 

 smoky-brown, becoming almost black on 

 the head ; the breast brownish-gray ; nearly 

 white about the anus ; under tail-coverts 

 tinged with brown ; the exposed portion of 

 the tail with a decided jjlo.<s of blue ; bill 

 and feet, in some specimens yellow, in 

 others black. Length, 16.00; wing, 8.00; 

 tail, 8.25; tarsus, 1.80. 



Hab. Rio Grande Valley, north-eastern 

 Mexico, southward. Cordova (Scl. 1856, 

 300) ; ? Guatemala (Scl. Iliis, I, 22) ; Hon- 

 duras (ScL. II, 113); Costa Rica (Cabax. 

 J. 1861, 83) ; Vera Cruz, hot and temperate 

 regions (SuMicn. Mem. Bost. See. I, 554). 



The difference in tlie color of the 

 bill appears to be independent of sex. 

 The feet of the yellow-billed birds 

 are not of the same pure yellow. 

 The Psilorhimis mcxicanvs of Eiippell is described as having wliite tips to 

 the tail-feathers ; of these there is no trace in the adult specimens, male and 

 female, from tlie l!io Grande, before us. He speaks of a sup]iosed young 

 bird sent from Tamauli])as, by Liiidheimer, as being witliout these white 

 tips. 



A series of specimens of tliis species exhibits considerable diversities. 

 Some skins from Mirador, ]Mex., not far from Vera Cruz, perhaps best rep- 

 resent the species as first described by Wagler. In these the head and neck 

 are sooty-brown, becoming ligliter on the jugulum and on the back. The 

 wings and tail show a trace of dull bluish. In No. 23,915 the under part<s 

 are sooty-gray, the bill and legs black ; in 23,916 the colors are similar. 



Hilorltinnx mnrio. 



