BIRD BIOGRAPHIES 



and tail are a brighter blue; its back is a grayish-brown; 

 its under parts are gray, washed with brown, and faintly 

 streaked on throat and breast. Its breast-band is bluish. 

 This jay is found chiefly along the southern coast of Flor- 

 ida. The absence of a crest is its most distinguishing 

 mark. 



PACIFIC COAST JAYS 



Two species t)f jays are common in California and its 

 neighboring states. One, the steller jay, enjoys a good 

 reputation. It differs from its better-known relatives in 

 appearance, also. Its head, crest, throat, breast, and back 

 are a brownish-black; its belly and rump are light 

 blue, its wings and tail purplish-blue, barred with 

 black. 



It is a shy bird and does not often approach the haunts 

 of man. Its food is very like that of other jays, but its 

 habits bring no condemnation upon it.^ 



The CALIFORNIA JAY is similar to the Florida Jay and 

 may be easily distinguished by its blue head without a 

 crest, its blue neck, wings, and tail, its brown back, white 

 throat, and gray under parts. This jay is a decided rep- 

 robate. Professor Beal has characterized it as follows: 

 "It freely visits the stockyards near ranch buildings, and 

 orchards and gardens. As a fruit stealer it is notorious. 

 One instance is recorded where seven jays were shot from 

 a prune tree, one after the other, the dead bodies being 

 left under the tree until all were killed. So eager were 

 the birds to get the fruit that the report of the gun and 

 the sight of their dead did not deter them from coming 



5 Farmers' Bulletin 630, Biological Survey, U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture. 



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