CORVID.E — THE CROWS. 277 



thoroughly that two or tliivu vt'ars afterwards not a worm was to be seen 

 in tliat neiglil)orli(i(Hl ; and more recently he has searcheil for it in vain, in 

 order to rear cal)inet si^'cinu-ns of the niotli. 



The Jay builds a strong coarse nest in the branch of some forest or or- 

 chard tree, or even in a low Ixish. It is formed of twigs rudely but strongly 

 interwoven, and is lintMl with dark fibrous roots. The eggs are usuallv live, 

 and mrely six in numl)cr. 



The eggs of this si»ecies are usually of a rounded-oval shajie, oljtuse, and 

 of very equal size at either end. Their ground-color is a brownish-olive, 

 varying in depth, and occasicaially an olive-drab. They are sparingly spotted 

 with darker olive-brown. In size they vary from 1.05 to 1.20 inches in 

 length, and in breadtli irom .82 to .88 of an inch. Their average size is 

 about 1.15 by .80 of an inch. 



Cyanura stelleri, Swainson. 



STELLES'S J AT. 



Corvm stcUcri, Gmelin, Syst. Xat. 1, 1788, 370. — Lath. Ind. Orn. 1, 1790, 158.— 

 Pallas, Zoog. Kosso-As. I, 1811, 393. — B.inap. Zool. Jour. Ill, 1827, 49. — Ib. 

 Suppl. Syn. 1828, 433. - Aid. Oni. Biog. IV, 1838, 4.53, pi. ccdxii. Garrulns 

 stcllcri, ViEiLLoT, Diet. XII, 1S17, 481. — B*. nap. Am. Oni. II, 1828, 44, pi. xiii. — 

 NuTTALL, Man. I, 1832, 229. — Ari>. Syn. 1839, 154. -Ib. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 107, 

 pi. ccxxx (not of SwAiN.soN, F. Bor.-Am. n. Cijanurus stdJeri, Swainson, F. Bor.- 

 Am. II, 1831, 49,'), App. Pica siclhri, Wa(;lkii, Syst. Av. 1827, Pirn, No. 10. 

 Cyanocorcw .stcllcri, BoN. List, 1838. FiNstii, Al.li. Nat. Ill, 1872, 40 (Alaska). 

 Cynmcittn stcllcri. Cab. Mus. Hein. 1851, 221. Xkwbkrry, P. R. R. Kep. VI, iv, 

 1857, 85. Ctjanoijarrul us stcllcri, Bonap. Consptntus, 1850, 377. Stcller's Croit; Pen- 

 nant, Arctic Zool. II, Sp. 139. Lath. Syn. I, 387. djanura s. B-aiup, Birds N. 

 Am. 1858, 581 (in part). LuJtn, Pr. H. A. Inst. IV, 122 (British Colundua ; nt'st). 

 — Dall & Banni.ster, Tr. Chic. Ac. I, 1869, 486 (Alaska). —Cuopeh, Orn. Cal. I, 

 1870, 298 (in part). 



Sp. Char. Crest about one third lonprer than the bill. Fifth quill longest; second 

 about equal to the secondary quills. Tail graduated: lateral feathers about .70 of an 

 inch >hortest. Head and neck all round, and forepart of breast, dark brownish-black. 

 Back and lesser wincr-coverts blnckish-browri, the scapulars glossed with blue. Under 

 parts, rump, tail-coverts, and wings greenish-blue ; exposed surfaces of lesser quills dark 

 indigo-blue ; tertials and ends of tail-feathers rather obsoletely banded with blaclc. 

 Feathers of the forehead streaked with greenish-blue. Length, about 13.00; wing, o.So; 

 tail, 5.85; tarsus, 1.75 (L021). 



TLvB. Pacific coa.sit of North America, from the Columbia River to Sitka ; east to St. 

 Mary's Mission, Rocky Mountains. 



Habits. Dr. Suckley Regarded Steller s Jay as probably the most abui'- 

 dant bird of its size in all the wooded country between the Ilocky Mountains 

 and the Pacitic. He describes it as tame, loquacious, and possessed of the 

 most impudent curiosity. It is a hardy, tough bird, and a constant winter 

 resident of Washington Territory. Tt is remarkable for its varied cries and 



