RARE BRITISH BIRDS 1 



CLASSIFIED NOTES 



[P. C. R. JOURDAIN. W. P. PYCRAFT. T. WELLS] 



N.B. All species or subspecies bracketed are of doubtful occurrence, 

 and, with few exceptions, are not described. 



THE CROWS 2 



[ORDER: Paxxeriformpa. FAMILY: Carvidae] 



CONTINENTAL-JAY (Uarrulus glanddrius glanddrius (Limueus). French, geai; German, 

 E i r/u'l I* < i/i?r : Italian, yhittntlaid]. 



1. Description. The continental race of the jay may be distinguished from the British 

 jay by the delicate lavender-grey which tinges the hind-neck and mantle and the prepectoral 

 region, and by the eyes, which are, as a rule, light bluish white, [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. While the British jay, G. glandarius rufitergum Hartert, is confined to 

 Great Britain, and the Irish jay, 0. (jr.Ai&ernicws Witherby and Hartert, is only found in Ireland, 

 the continental race is found throughout Europe from the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia and 

 lat. 63 in Russia, south to the Mediterranean, but is replaced by other forms in S. Spain, the 

 Mediterranean Isles, S.E. Russia, etc., as well as in M.W. Africa and Asia. It is only an autumn 

 visitor to the British Isles, and has now been definitely recorded from Kent and Sussex (1910). 

 [F. c. R. j.] 



IRISH-JAY [Gii.i-i-n.lua glanddrius hMrnicus Witherby and Hartert]. 



1. Description. The Irish jay has the sides of the head and ear-coverts more rufous and 

 darker than in the British jay, the rich rufous colour reaching to the eyes. The chest, breast, 

 belly, sides, and flanks are much richer in coloration. The throat is not so white as in the 

 continental jay, and is washed with vinous. Length 13 in. [331 mm.], [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. Recognised in 1911, after the issue of Chapter I. of this work, in which 

 it should be placed. Confined to Ireland, where it is a very local resident, being only found in 

 Leinster and the adjoining parts of Munster, though recently recorded as extending its range 

 into South Ulster. Ussher defines it as resident in the counties watered by the Suir, Nore, and 

 Barrow, wandering more or less to the neighbouring counties. Probably in former times 

 its range was more extensive. See Ussher and Warren, Birds of Ireland, p. 87. 



4. Nest and Eggs. Does not differ in its nesting habits from the British form, except that 

 the number of eggs laid appears to be smaller, four being an ordinary clutch, and five less 

 common. [F. c. R. J.] 



THICKBILLED or EUROPEAN - NUTCRACKER [Nucifraga caryocatdctes caryocatdctes 

 (Linnaeus). French, casse-noix ; German, dickschndblige Tannenhaher ; Italian, noccio- 

 laja]. 

 1. Description. Distinguished from the Siberian nutcracker by its shorter and thicker bill, 



by being less heavily spotted with white, and by the feathers of the rump, which are less spotted. 



1 Under this head are here included all the British species or subspecies not described in the preceding chapters. 

 1 Vol. i. p. 1. 



463 



