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THE LONG-CRESTED JAY. 



{Cyanocitta stelleri niacrolopha.) 



The family (Corvidae) of birds to 

 which the long-crested jay belongs in- 

 cludes not only the jays but also the 

 crows, the ravens, the magpies and the 

 rooks. It is a cosmopolitan family 

 with the exception that no representa- 

 tives are found in New Zealand. It 

 includes over two hundred species of 

 which about twenty-five are inhabitants 

 of North America. Strictly speaking, 

 none of the species are migratory, ex- 

 cepting those whose range carries them 

 to regions of severe winters. Some of 

 the species are well protected by soft 

 and thick coats of down and feathers, 

 and as they are generous in their selec- 

 tion of food, eating varieties that may 

 be procured at any season, they do not 

 need to move from place to place but 

 may remain resident throughout the 

 year. 



The jays differ from the crows in 

 their method of progression on the 

 ground, hopping instead of walking: 

 They are distinctly arboreal in their 

 habits, and usually have a bright-col- 

 ored plumage, blue being the most com- 

 mon. Their heads are often crested. 

 Though found nearly throughout the 

 world their highest development seems 

 to have been reached by those species 

 that are resident in the warmer portions 

 of America. 



The jays are noisy and quarrelsome, 

 fretting apparently for the most insig- 

 nificant reasons. They are great mim- 

 ics and exhibit a high degree of intelli- 

 gence. The jay possesses a variety of 

 notes and calls, and is a notable bor- 

 rower of those of some other species of 

 birds. This versatility has given rise to 



the very appropriate name of the sub- 

 family in which they are included, the 

 Garrulinae, from the Latin word garrio, 

 meaning to prattle. 



Our illustration shows the color and 

 markings of the long-crested jay. Its 

 home is in the wooded regions of the 

 southern Rocky Mountains, southern 

 Arizona and the northwestern portion 

 of Mexico. It breeds throughout this 

 range. 



Dr. Coues has said regarding this 

 bird that it is " a stranger to modesty 

 and forbearance, and the many quali- 

 ties that charm us in some little birds 

 and endear them to us; he is a regular 

 fiUibuster, ready for any sort of adven- 

 ture that promises sport or spoil, even 

 if spiced with danger." In spite of 

 these characteristics they are very quiet 

 during the nesting season and the fe- 

 male is very devoted to her nest and 

 will almost allow herself to be touched 

 before flying from her eggs. Their 

 nests are bulky and usually placed in 

 out-of-the way places, in low, bushy, 

 cone-bearing trees. They seemingly 

 will eat anything of a nutritious nature. 

 Flying insects, larvae, beetles, flies, spi- 

 ders, eggs, and even small birds, seem 

 to be palatable to their tastes. Yet 

 they are principally vegetarians feed- 

 ing upon seeds, hard fruits and berries 

 when these are obtainable. 



TheSteller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), 

 of which the long-crested form is a geo- 

 graphical variety, is a resident of the 

 Northwestern portion of North America 

 ranging from northern California to 

 southern Alaska and eastward to the 

 Cascade Mountains. 



