212 BROOKLYN INSTITUTE MUSEUM. SCIENCE BULLETIN 2, 6. 



are about ly cm. in diameter by lo cm. in depth; inside it is 7 cm. in 

 diameter by 6 cm. in depth. The eggs, four in number, taken with this 

 nest were fresh. They are typical grackle eggs of a soiled greenish 

 white color, marked with spots, dashes and irregular streaks of blackish 

 brown on an underlying rusty brownish wash. They are ovate in form 

 and measure 25.75 ^ ^^-S '> -6.5 x 18.5 ; 25.5 x 18.5 and 24.75 ^ 18.5 mm. 



Young birds just from the nest were observed on this same date. 



The colors of fresh birds are : eye straw yellow ; bill and feet black. 



CORVIDAE— THE CROWS AND JAYS. 



Only two jays have been recorded from the Orinoco region, Cyano- 

 corax violaceiis and C. cayanus. Xanthura yncas caeruleocephala is re- 

 corded from Trinidad and Venezuela^ and is consequently included in 

 the following key. 



Key to THE Species of Corvidae. 



a Upper parts of body (except head and neck) uniform green Xanthura yncas caeruleo- 

 cephala. 

 a'. Upper parts not green. 



b. Tail uniform ; no white tips Cyanocorax violaceus. 



b'. Tail feathers tipped with white Cyanocorax cayanus. 



Cyanocorax violaceus DuBus. 



Cyanocorax violaceus DuBus, Bull. Acad. Brux. XIV. 2. 1847. p. 103 ; 



Berlepsch, Ibis 1884. p. 438 (Angostura) ; Berlepsch & Hartert, 



P- 34- 



Native names Corobero; Chuao. A common species, keeping in 

 the tree tops wherever there is tall timber along the water courses ; and 

 frequenting groves of mangos, of whose ripe fruit it is very fond. It 

 is noisy and jay-like in its actions. 



Colors of fresh birds are : eye seal brown ; bill and feet black. 



A nest and five fresh eggs were taken at Caicara, April 12th. The 

 nest was about 9.15 m. from the ground in the to]) of a tree that stood 

 at the edge of a grove of mangos. It was held between upright forks, 

 was somewhat bulky and constructed of quite large, long, dry twigs with 

 a lining of fine root-like vegetable fibres. It was found before com- 

 pletion and visited daily until the five eggs were laid, these being de- 

 posited on five consecutive days. They are a bluish white, thickly 

 speckled all over with various shades of brown from vinaceous to 



iSharpe, Cat. Birds, Brit. Mus. III. 1877. P- i3i. 



