BLUE JAY. 



273 



know. Thev are su]))ii)sc(l to iiidicalc future jo}' oi- sorrow to the 

 \vayfarer,';accordin.<i- to ilif minilicr lie sees together, the idea l)ein.i-- 

 tlius t'xi)resseil in |)o|iul;ir rliynii' : 



■• One, luirtl; : 



Two, grief : 



Thi-ee, a wedding ; 



Foui-. a death." 



(^Exus CYANOCITTA Strickland. 

 CYANOCTTTA CRT8TATA. (Lixx.). 



I'.t:. Blue Jay. (477) 



l'ur|)li.sli-bhie: lielow, pale gray, wliiteuing on the throat, l)elly andeiissum ; 

 u'hUxck eoUar across the k)wer thioat and up the sides of the neck and head 

 behind the crest, and a bhick frontlet bordered with whitish ; wings and tail, 

 pure rich blue, with black bars, the greater coverts, secondaries and tail 

 feathers, except the central, Ijroadly tipped with pure white ; tail, much 

 rounded, the graduation over an inch. Length, 1 1-12 ; wing, 5^ ; tail, ;i^. 



Hab.— Eastern North America to the Plains, and from the fur countries 

 south to eastern Texas. 



Xest, in trees or Imslies. built of sticks, lined with weeds, grasses and other 

 soft uuiterial. 



Eggs, foui' or five, variable in eok)r, usually clay color with lirown .spots. 

 18 



