EUROPEAN JAY. 253 



quill short, next four graduated, fifth and sixth 

 longest ; legs weaker proportionally than in 

 Corvus ; hind toe strong, with a dilated 

 sole. G. glandarius. 



Note. Head crest ed, plumage loose. Europe, 

 Asia. 



THE EUROPEAN JAY. 



Garrulus glandarius. 

 PLATE XIII. 



Corvus glandarius, Linn. Pica glandaria, Klein. Gar- 

 rulus, JBriss, Jay of British authors. 



THE common Jay is perhaps one of our most 

 beautiful birds. The general tint of his plumage 

 is chaste and pleasing, it is finely contrasted by 

 the deep black of the wings and tail, and the 

 brilliant hue of the feathers composing the spuri- 

 ous pinion enlivens the whole beyond the general 

 brilliancy of our northern birds. To these may 

 be added the quick and lively habit of the bird, 

 and altogether he is an ornament and acceptable 

 tenant of our woods. In the wooded districts of 

 the south we believe the Jay is frequent ; as we 

 proceed northward, it becomes much more local, 

 though by no means rare where it is found, fre- 

 quenting generally the older wood around private 



