JAN., 1909. BIRDS OF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN CORY. 



545 



the head down sides of neck and joining, on the breast forming a black 

 band; rest of under parts, buffy white, or grayish white; under tail 

 coverts, white; wings, blue, banded with black, and the tips of the 

 coverts and secondaries, white; tail, blue, middle feathers strongly 

 banded with black; rest of tail feathers showing more or less black 

 bands and broadly tipped with white; bill, black. 



Length, n to 12; wing, 5 to 6; tail, about 5.30; bill, 1.05. 



The Blue Jay is a common resident throughout the year in Illinois 

 and Wisconsin, being one of our most familiar birds. In addition 

 to its harsh cry it has a peculiar bell like note, and on rather rare 

 occasions, a delightful warbling song. The nest is usually built in 

 the crotch of a tree and is composed of small interwoven twigs. 

 The eggs are from 3 to 6 in number, pale olive or pale buff color 

 with scattered markings and speckles of brown. They measure 

 about 1. 10 x .82 inches. 



The Field Museum collection contains a number of sets of eggs 

 taken in northern Illinois between May 8 and June 10. 



Genus PERISOREUS Bonap. 

 219. Perisoreus canadensis (LiNN.). 

 CANADA JAY. 



Distr.: Northern border of the United States, from Wisconsin to 

 the Atlantic Ocean northward to Arctic America. 



Adult: Plumage, soft; back, dusky gray; forehead, sides of head 

 and neck, and throat, whitish; back of head and nape, sooty black; 

 lower breast and belly, ashy or ashy buff; primaries, dark brown; the 



