INSESSORES: CORVIDjE. 



227 



Fig. 195. 



and the tail eleven inches ; the general color black ; the 

 belly, scapulars, and inner webs of primaries white, and 

 the neck spotted 

 with white. The 

 European Magpie 

 is closely related to 

 the American spe- 

 cies, but its voice 

 and habits are said 

 to be different. 



The Yellow-billed 

 Magpie, P. Nuttalli, 

 Aud., of California, 

 is seventeen inches 

 long, and the wing 

 eight inches. 



The Genus Cya- 

 nura has the head 

 crested ; wings and 

 tail blue, with trans- 

 verse bars of black. 



The Blue Jay, C. 

 cristata, Sw., of North America east of the Missouri, is 

 twelve and a quarter inches long, and the wing less than 

 five and three quarters inches. In beauty of plumage 

 this bird is not surpassed, if equalled, by any other bird 

 in the United States ; but its notes are harsh and dis- 

 agreeable, and its habit of stealing and eating the eggs 

 and young of other birds gives it an unenviable repu- 

 tation. 



Steller's Jay, C. Stelleri, Sw., of Western North Amer- 

 ica, is thirteen inches long, and the wing less than six 

 inches ; the head and neck all round, and the fore part 

 of the breast, dark brownish-black ; back and lesser 

 wing-coverts blackish brown ; under parts, rump, tail- 

 coverts, and wings blue. 



Magpie, P'. hndsonica, Bonap. 



