CORVID.E — THE CROWS. 305 



witli a fiilvons tincro on the Ijroast, the Inll and feet yellow. In both the 

 under surthee of tail is l)ro\vn to the end. In 2.")/.)l7 the under parts, from 

 !)reast to crissuni inclusive, with the tibite, are brov/nish-wliite, the tail- 

 featliers (exee2>ting the two median) tii)i)ed with white for over an inch, the 

 bill and feet black. This one also has an obscure dull bluish wash or 

 patch along the feathers of the ranuis of Ljwer jaw not observed in other 

 sj)ecimens. 



Tlie specimens collected by Lieutenant Couch, and described in the racitic 

 Kailroad IJeport are considerably smaller, and exhibit other differences which 

 may prove of specific importance. In this case they will appropriately Ijear 

 I*upl)eirs name of /*. rnvxicdniui. 



Habits. This is a Mexican species, occasionally extending its movements 

 as far nortli as the valley i>f the Jiio Grande, and probably crossing our lines 

 into Texas, although of this there is as yet no positive evidence. 



Specimens of this species were procured by Lieutenant Couch at IVxpiillo, 

 San Diego, and at Cliina, in north-eastern Mexico, and were found by him 

 living in forests of high trees. It is Jay-like in its habits, being decidedly 

 gregarious, and having harsh and loud note's. Though making more noise 

 than any other bird in the neigliborhood, if one of their number is brought 

 down by the discliarge of a gun, the noise hushes them at once, and the rest 

 move off in perfect silence. 



Mr. Sumichrast, in his j)aper on the Pistribution of the Birds of Vera 

 Cruz, states tliat tliis species al)ounds in both the hot and the temperate 

 regions of tliat department, and, indeed, the greater portions of Vera Cniz. 

 He s])eaks of it as a bird well known and generally detested on account of 

 its troublesome and noisy habits. It is found everywhere except in the 

 alpine region, and it does not appear ever to go beyond a vertical elevation 

 of 4,000 feet. This gentleman has been assured that the bird never makes 

 any nest of its own, but invariably lays its eggs in those belonging to other 

 birds. lie does not so state, but we infer that he means to convey the idea 

 that this Jay appropriates the nests of other birds in which to hatch its own 

 young, not that, like the Cowbird, it leaves its eggs to be brought up by 

 strangers. 



This Jay was met with by Mr. G. C. Taylor at Taulevi, in Honduras ; and 

 from that place eastward, as far as the Atlantic, he found it very common. 

 It was generally seen or heard shrieking in the bushes by the roadsides. It 

 was also found by Mr. Salvin to occur on the eastern road between Quiriqua 

 and Iguana, on the road to Guatemala. 



Mr. Joseph Leyland found this species common both in Honduras and 

 the Belize. It occurred in small flocks, which were very noisy, and annoyed 

 the hunter by always giving the alarm. 



Vt)I,. II 



