466 J A CKDA W—JA V 



(Trans. Linn. Soc. xv. p. 204), "a loud noise somewhat like laugh- 

 ing," whence, together with its uncouth appearance, it probably 

 received its extraordinary appellation from the settlers on their first 

 arrival in the country, 



JACKDAW, the common nickname of the Daw, Corvus 

 monedula. 



JACK-SNIPE, so called either from its small size, or from being 

 accounted the male of the common Snipe. 



JAVA SPARROW, one of the best-known of exotic cage-birds, 

 Padda or Munia oryzivora, belonging to the Family Ploceidse (Weaver- 

 BIRd) and a species which has been naturalized in many countries, 

 where it is often very injurious to crops of rice or other grain. It 

 is said to have been brought to Europe from China, whither it was 

 conveyed from Java many years before, and a living bird possessed 

 by Sloane in 1740 was described and figured by Edwards [Nat. 

 Hist. Uncom. B. pi. 41). It is easily recognized by its pink bill, 

 red orbits, slate-coloured body, and black crown, beneath which is 

 generally a pure white patch on the cheek, but according to the 

 observation of Mr. Bartlett as recorded by his son {Monogr. Weaver-B. 

 pt. 1) these white patches will change to black, and then again 

 to white, irrespective of age, sex, or season. Examples without 

 white patches are often sold as females, but Mr. Edward Bartlett 

 says he has dissected many and found that both sexes are alike in 

 plumage, nor has the male any song by which he may be dis- 

 tinguished. 



JAY (French, Giai), a well-known and very beautiful European 

 bird, the Corvus glandarius of Linntieus, the Garrulus glandarius of 

 modern ornithologists. To this species ai-e more or less closely 

 allied numerous birds inhabiting^ both areas of the Holarctic Region, 

 the Indian and the Neotropical, except the southern portion of the 

 last two. All these birds are commonly called Jays, and form 

 a group of the Corvidse (Crow), which may be considered a 

 subfamily, Garrulinx. Indeed there are, or have been, systematists 

 who would, unnecessarily as it seems, elevate the Jays to the rank 

 of a Family, Garrulidm. Some of them have an unquestionable 

 resemblance to the Pies, if the group now known by that name 

 . can be satisfactorily severed from the true Corvinx. In structure 

 the Jays are not readily differentiated from the Pies ; but in habit, 

 so far as is known of them, they are much more arboreal, delighting 

 in thick coverts, seldom apjtearing in the open, and seeking their 

 food on or under trees. They seem also never to walk or run when 

 on the ground, but always to hop. The body-feathers are commonly 

 loose and soft ; and, gaily coloured as are most of the species, in 



