208 PASSERES. CORVID^. 



FAM. CORVIDjE. (The Crows.) 



BLACK-HEADED JAY.* 



Cyanocorax ptteatw. 



Corvus pileatus, ILL. PL col. 58. 



THIS fine bird was brought to Mr. Hill, about 

 the end of the year 1844, from the mountains of 

 St. Andrews, by a negro who stated that he had 

 caught it near Newcastle. Its wings were cut ; 

 which at once excited the suspicion that it had 

 been a caged bird, but, on a moment's examination, 

 it was perceived that its perfect cleanness and 

 the smoothness of its plumage decisively indicated 

 a state of freedom and wildness. The man stated 

 that having caught it alive in the garden of his 

 cottage, which, (from the circumstance that the 

 cottage-gardens, in the precipitous mountains, often 

 run into narrow cliffs and corners, environed as if 

 by enormous walls,) he might readily do, he had 

 endeavoured to keep it alive, and had clipped 

 both its wings for its detention. After a few days, 

 however, it died, probably for want of proper food, 

 and he brought it to Kingston, to dispose of it 

 for a trifle. 



I find by reference to Temminck, PL col., that 

 this specimen, now in my possession, is a female; 



* Length 14 inches, tail 5^j, rictus 1-&, tarsus 2-5%, middle toe 1^. 



