250 STKLLKirS JAY. 



and tail, and even the colors of their plumage, which agree in all the 

 species, and in different climates, render the Crows a very natural and 

 well marked group. The black plumage and offensive odor, which cause 

 them to be viewed everywhere with disgust, and even somewhat of 

 superstitious dread, arc far from being characteristics of the neat and 

 elegant Jays. 



The true Oorvi are distinguished by the following traits. Bill very 

 stout ; feet very strong ; general form rol)ust ; flight highly sustained, 

 straight, or circular, as if perforraing evolutions in the air. They live, 

 travel, and breed, in large bands ; affect wide plains and cultivated 

 grounds, only retiring to the adjacent forests to roost, and arc always 

 seen on high and naked trees, but never on thickets, shrubs, or bu.shes. 

 Their voice is deep and hoarse. They are more or less fond of cattle, 

 some species preying on the vermin that infest them. Though devouring 

 all kinds of food, yet their propensity is decidedly carnivorous. Their 

 black unvaried colors, are remarkably opposed to the bright and cheerful 

 vesture of the Jays, whose plumage is of a much looser texture, the 

 feathers being longer and much more downy. 



The Jays are again more particularly distinguished from the Magpies 

 by their head-feathers being long and silky, and always erectile 

 (especially when the bird is excited or angry), even when they are not 

 decidedly crested, as is the case in many species. Their colors are also 

 gayer and more brilliant, with more or less of blue. The species of 

 both these sections are garrulous, noisy and inquisitive. Together with 

 the Crows, they are eminently distinguished by their stout, cultrato 

 bill, generally covered at base with setaceous, incumbent, porrect 

 feathers, hidinii the nostrils. The female is similar to the male in 

 appearance, and the young differ but little, and only during the first 

 year, from the adult. They are very shy, suspicious, possessed of an 

 acute sense of smelling, and evince great sagacity in avoiding snares. 

 They are omnivorous in the fullest extent of the word, feeding on 

 grains, insects, berries, and even flesh and eggs. When they have 

 caught a small bird, which th(^y can only do when feebler and sickly, or 

 ensnared, they place it under their feet, and with tlnir bill tear it to 

 pieces, swallowing each piece separately. Nevertheless they give the 

 preference to grains or fruits. The northern species are wary and 

 provident, collecting stores of food for the winter. They are very 

 petulant ; their motions quick and abrupt, and their sensations lively. 

 When alarmed by the appearance of a dog, fox, or other living or dead 

 object, they rally together by a peculiar note, as if they would impose 

 upon it by their numbers and disagreeable noise. When on the ground, 

 they display great activity ; or if on trees, they are continually leaping 

 about from branch to branch, and hardly ever alight on dead or naked 

 ones. They are generally met with in forests, seldom in open plains ; 



