the Blue Crow of America. 157 



we never saw one capture a rejitile ; but this, so far from 

 impugning Dr. Kennedy's evidence, simply brings us back to 

 the opening sentence of this paragi-aph. The particular shape 

 of the bill may indicate something in the bird's regimen that we 

 do not yet exactly understand ; but, after all, the bill is not so 

 very different from that of Picicorvus, and our observations show 

 an extremely close similarity in the modes of life of the two species. 

 If required, upon the evidence of reptilivorous habits, to draw a 

 parallel, in some other family, with Gymnokitfa, we might 

 instance one of the Saurotherinaj,such as Geococcyx calif ornianus, 

 in contrast with ordinary arboricole CuculidJE. 



Notwithstanding its essentially corvine form, the habits of 

 this bird, like its colour, lean hard upon those of Jays. Like 

 these last, it is a garrulous, vociferous creature, of various 

 curiously modulated chattering notes when at ease, and of 

 extremely loud harsh cries when in fear or anger. The former 

 are somewhat guttural; but the latter possess a resonance different 

 alike from the hoarseness of the screams of Cyanura macrolopha 

 and the wiry sharpness of the voice of Cyanocitta woodhousii. 

 Like Jays, again, it is a restless, impetuous bird, as it were of an 

 unbalanced, even frivolous mind, its turbulent presence con- 

 trasting strongly with the usually poised and somewhat sedate 

 demeanonr of the larger black Corvi. With these last, however, 

 it shares a strong character — its attitudes when on the ground, 

 to which it very frequently descends, being crow-like, and its 

 gait, an easy walk or run, differing notably from the leaping 

 mode of progression that is habitual with Jays. When perching, 

 its customary attitude is rather stiff and prim, if indeed not quite 

 so ei'ect as Mr. Cassin's figure indicates. It shares, with its 

 relatives on either side of the family, a shy and watchful dispo- 

 sition. Its flight is most nearly like that of Picicorvus. Per- 

 haps gregariousness is its prominent distinctive trait. Immense 

 as the gatherings of Crows frequently are, this seems rather due 

 to community of interest than to a true social instinct ; each 

 individual looks out for himself, and the company disperses for 

 cause as readily as it assembles. It is different with these small 

 Jay Crows ; they " make up " in flocks, sometimes of surprising 



SER. III. VOL. II. N 



