412 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



ago." The bird is also included by G. A. Stockwell in his list of Michigan 

 birds (Forest and Stream, Vol. 8, 19, 300). Mclhvraith, in his "Birds of 

 Ontario," states that Mr. C. J. Bampton, Registrar of the District of Algoma, 

 reports it as a rare winter visitor at Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario), this of course 

 is just across the St. Mary's River from Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. It has 

 also been reported at Odessa, Ont. March 12, 1898. 



In recent years apparently none have been seen within our limits. There 

 are two Magpies (Nos. 20000 and 20001) in the Kent Scientific Museum, 

 marked "Michigan, Gunn Collection, C. W. Gunn," but without other 

 data. The bills of both, however, are nearly pure white, and the birds 

 are doubtless the Yellow-billed Magpie, from California. Kuralien and 

 Hollister (Birds of Wisconsin, p. 84) give several records for Wisconsin, 

 but none of recent date. Mr. H. N. Clark of Meridian, is said to have 

 captured one in a trap in Dunn county. Wis., in 1870, and to have seen 

 another in February, 1884. According to Dr. Hoy one was obtained at 

 Bagley's Harbor, Wisconsin, on Lake Michigan, November 15, 1849. 



This bird is very closely related to the European Magpie, so closely in 

 fact that it is almost or quite impossible to separate the two birds. In its 

 northwestern home it is said to nest in thickets or dense trees, building an 

 immense nest of sticks, twigs and similar material, in the midst of which 

 a hollow is left for the eggs, this being reached by a covered opening or 

 burrow sometimes of considerable length. The eggs vary in number from 

 six to ten, are drab or greenish, heavily spotted with brown and purplish, 

 and average 1.30 by .91 inches. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult (sexes alike) : Head, neck, breast and entire upper parts (except scapulars) deep 

 black, the top of head usually with a metallic gloss, and tlie feathers of the throat largely 

 white below the surface; belly, sides and flanks pure white; thighs black; upper surface of 

 wings mainly black, with green, blue, or violet reflections, the inner webs of the primaries 

 largely white; scapulars pure white; tail metallic greenish-black with purplish and bronzy 

 reflections toward tlie tip, much graduated, the lateral feathers only about half as long as 

 the middle pair; bill, legs and feet black; iris bluish gray; naked skin about the eyes blackish. 



Yoimg: Similar to adult, but without metallic reflections except on wings and tail; 

 the head, neck, and back dull black. 



Length 17.40 to 2L75 inches; wing 7.30 to 8.40; tail 9.30 to 11.95; culmen 1.15 to 1.42. 



191. Blue Jay. Cyanocitta cristata cristata (Linn.). (477) 



Synonyms: Jay, Common Jay. — Corvus cristatus, Linn. 1758.— Garrulus cristatus, 

 Vieill.— Cyanurus cristatus, Swains. — Cyanocorax cristatus, Bon. 



Figure 98. 



Recognizable at a glance l)y the general bright blue color checked with 

 black and white, and the conspicuous crest. It can be mistaken for no other 

 bird, except possibly for the Kingfisher, and its habits sufficiently distinguish 

 it from that species. 



Distribution. — Eastern North America to the Plains, and fi'om the Fur 

 Countries to Florida and eastern Texas. 



The Blue Jay is found abundantly throughout Michigan and is commonly 

 believed to be resident wherever found. Certain it is that Blue Jays occur 



