198 



CONIROSTRES. 



SUB-FAMILY J I. 



Garrulin.e. 



21te Jays. 



Gen. Charac— Bill moderate, strong, laterally compressed, and the culmen 

 straight, but suddenly curved near the tip, which is emarginated ; the nos- 

 trils generally concealed by projecting plumes; the wings moderate and 

 rounded; the tail of various lengths, graduated or rounded; the tarsi 

 moderate and much seutellated ; and the toes long and strongly scaled. 





Fig. 81. — the jay. 

 ( Garrulus glandarius.) 



The Jays are peculiar to the Old World, and are 

 usually found in pairs or small societies in forests, 

 or wherever trees are growing together, preferring 

 the thickest and closest parts, as they are very ar- 

 boreal in their habits, and hop actively from branch 

 to branch. It is on the trees that these birds find 

 most of their food, which consists of various fruits 

 and seeds ; but they also visit cultivated grounds 

 and orchards for the fruits and certain vegetables 

 to which they are partial. They sometimes suck the 



