236 JAY. 



out the suitable wooded portions of Europe, down to the Mediter- 

 ranean and Black Seas. In North Africa it is represented by 

 G. minor, and also by G. cervicalis which has a black crown, \vhite 

 ear-coverts, and deep rufous nape ; while forms, to which specific 

 rank has been accorded by some authorities and denied by others, 

 are found intergrading, from the Urals, the Caucasus, Asia IMinor 

 and Persia eastward, until the extreme of differentiation is reached in 

 G. brandii of Southern Siberia, North China, and the North Island 

 of Japan. The race inhabiting the South Island of Japan differs 

 from the European bird in having some black on the lores. 



The nest, often commenced early in April, and fairly well con- 

 cealed, is an open, cup-shaped structure of short twigs, neatly lined 

 with fine roots and grasses ; it is usually not more than twenty feet 

 above the ground, in the branches or the outgrowth of the side of a 

 tree, or in some high bush. The 5-6 eggs are greenish-grey, 

 thickly speckled and often zoned towards the larger end with olive- 

 brown, and sometimes scrolled with a few black hair-lines : measure- 

 ment I '2 by "9 in. The young at first go about in family parties, 

 but subsequently they often unite with others and form bands which 

 at times migrate in large streams, chiefly in a westerly direction. 

 Thus in the autumn of 1876, and again in that of 1882, immense 

 numbers, apparently coming from the great forest regions of Eastern 

 Germany, were observed crossing Heligoland during three consecu- 

 tive days. The food of the Jay consists chiefly of worms, insects, 

 berries, nuts, beechmast, acorns and fruit, but also to some extent 

 of the eggs and young of other birds. The natural note is a harsh 

 screech, but, as is well known, the bird possesses considerable 

 imitative powers. 



The adult male has the head covered with a whitish crest, each 

 feather tipped or striped with black ; ear-coverts, nape and back 

 light vinous-brown ; rump white ; tail-feathers black, the exterior 

 pair brownish ; primaries dull black with white margins to the outer 

 webs ; secondaries deep black with long white basal patches, the 

 innermost rich chestnut tipped with black ; wing-coverts barred 

 alternately with black, white and pale blue; chin pale buff; 

 from the base of the bill backwards a black streak ; under parts 

 buffish-white, turning to rufous on the flanks ; bill dark horn-colour ; 

 iris bluish-madder; legs and feet pale brown. Length about 

 14-25 in. ; wing 7-25 in. The female resembles the male, and the 

 young differ little from the adults except in having brown irides. 



