CORVID^ — THE CROWS. 277 



thoroughly that two or three years afterwards not a worm was to be seen 

 in that neighborhood ; and more recently he has searched for it in vain, in 

 order to rear cabinet specimens of the moth. 



The Jay builds a strong coarse nest in the branch of some forest or or- 

 chard tree, or even in a low bush. It is formed of twigs rudely but strongly 

 interwoven, and is lined with dark fibrous roots. The eggs are usually five, 

 and rarely six in number. 



The eggs of this species are usually of a rounded-oval shape, ol^tuse, and 

 of very equal size at either end. Their ground-color is a brownish-olive, 

 varying in depth, and occasionally an olive-drab. They are sparingly spotted 

 with darker olive-brown. In size they vary from 1.05 to 1.20 inches in 

 length, and in breadth from .82 to .88 of an inch. TJieir average size is 

 about 1.15 by .86 of an inch. 



Cyanura stelleri, Swainson. 



STELLER'S JAY. 



Corvus stelleri, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 370. — Lath. Ind. Orn. I, 1790, 158. — 

 Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-As. I, 1811, 393. — Bonap. Zobl. Jour. Ill, 1827, 49. — Ib. 

 Suppl. Syn. 1828, 433. —Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 453, pi. ccclxii. Garrulus 

 stelleri, Vieillot, Diet. XII, 1817, 481. — Bonap. Am. Orn. II, 1828, 44, pi. xiii. — 

 NuTTALL, Man. I, 1832, 229. —Aud. Syn. 1839, 154. — Ib. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 107, 

 pi. ccxxx (not of Swainson, F. Bor.-Am. ?). Cijanums stelleri, Swainson, F. Bor.- 

 Am. II, 1831, 495, App. Pica stelleri, Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827, Pica, No. 10. 

 Cyanocorax stelleri, Bon. List, 1838. Finsch, Abh. Nat. Ill, 1872, 40 (Alaska). 

 Cyanocitta stelleri. Cab. Mus. Hein. 1851, 221. Newberry, P. E. R. Rep. VI, iv, 

 1857, 85. Cyanogarrtdus stelleri, Bonap. Conspectus, 1850, 377. Steller'sCroiv, Pen- 

 nant, Arctic Zool. II, Sp. 139. Lath. Syn. I, 387. Cyaimra s. Baird, Birds N. 

 Am. 1858, 581 (in part). Lord, Pr. R. A. Inst. IV, 122 (British Columbia ; nest). 

 — Dall & Bannister, Tr. Chic. Ac. I, 1869, 486 (Alaska). — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 

 1870, 298 (in part). 



Sp. Char. Crest about one third longer than the bill. Fifth quill longest; second 

 about equal to the secondary quills. Tail graduated ; lateral feathers about .70 of an 

 inch shortest. Head and neck all round, and forepart of breast, dark brownish-black. 

 Back and lesser wing-coverts blackish-brown, the scapulars glossed with blue. Under 

 parts, rump, tail-coverts, and wings greenish-blue ; exposed surfaces of lesser quills dark 

 indigo-blue ; tertials and ends of tail-feathers rather obsoletely banded with blade. 

 Feathers of the forehead streaked with greenish-blue. Length, about 13.00; wing, 5.85; 

 tail, 5.85; tarsus, 1.75 (1,921). 



Hab. Pacific coast of North America, from the Columbia River to Sitka ; east to St. 

 Mary's Mission, Rocky Mountains. 



Habits. Dr. Suckley regarded Steller's Jay as probably the most abun- 

 dant bird of its size in all the wooded country between the Eocky Mountains 

 and the Pacific. He describes it as tame, loquacious, and possessed of the 

 most impudent curiosity. It is a hardy, tough bird, and a constant winter 

 resident of Washington Territory. It is remarkable for its varied cries and 



