286 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



of under parts dirty whitish-brown ; under tail-coverts blue, the tibia tinged with the 

 same. Length, 11.00; wing, 4.50; tail, 5.70; tarsus, 1.45. 

 Hab. Florida only, and quite local. 



Habits. This beautiful species appears to be exclusively confined to 

 the peninsula of Florida, and there is no authentic evidence that it lias ever 

 been found outside of the limits of tliat State. The statement of Bonaparte, 

 that these birds are found in the States of Louisiana and Kentucky, has 

 never been confirmed, and Mr. Audubon, who was for many years a resident 

 of both States and familiar with the birds of each, was very positive the 

 statement was without foundation. It has never been observed even in 

 Georgia or Alabama, and Mr. Nuttall states that it is not found in any part 

 of West Florida. 



Mr. Allen, in his recent paper on the winter birds of East Florida, speak- 

 ing of this species, states that it is numerous in the scrub, but does not appear 

 to frequent the pine woods, the hummocks, or the swamps. He saw none 

 along the St. John's, except at Blue Springs, but they occur in numbers a 

 few miles back from the river. 



Dr. Bryant, in his Notes on the birds of Florida, mentions that this spe- 

 cies is tolerably plentiful in the vicinity of Enterprise. He regarded it 

 as exceedingly interesting on account of its limited geographical distribu- 

 tion. With no apparent obstacle to its movements, it is yet confined to 

 a small part of the peninsula of Florida, its area of distribution north and 

 south not exceeding three degrees of latitude, if so much. He saw none 

 north of St. Augustine, and none south of Jupiter's Inlet. So far as he 

 observed tliem, they were exclusively confined to the growth of scrub-oak, 

 which in many places is so entangled with creeping plants that it is im- 

 possible to walk through without cutting a path. This growth is generally 

 found on elevated ridges running parallel to the sea-coast. The most ex- 

 tensive of these, near Enterprise, is about three miles wide, and eighty feet 

 above the lake. 



The flight of this species is said by Mr. Audubon to be performed at a 

 short distance from the ground, and to consist either of a single sailing 

 sweep, as it passes from one tree to another, or of continuous flappings with 

 a slightly undulating motion, in the manner of the Canada Jay. Its notes 

 are described as softer than those of the Blue Jay, and more frequently 

 uttered. Its motions are also quicker and more abrupt. Its food is said to 

 consist of snails, which it collects on the ground, insects, and various kinds 

 of fruits and berries. It is also charged with being very destructive of eggs 

 and young birds. 



The Florida Jay is said to be easily kept in confinement, feeding readily 

 on dried or fresh fruit and the kernels of various nuts, and soon appears to 

 be reconciled to its loss of liberty. It secures its food between its feet, and 

 breaks it into pieces before swallowing it. In this way it feeds on the acorn 

 of the live-oak, snails, and the seeds of the sword-palmetto. 



