350 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



FAMILY CORVID^E. THE CROWS, JAYS, MAGPIES, ETC. (Page 322.) 



Genera. 



a 1 . Tail equal to or longer than wing ; wing short, rounded, the primaries exceed- 

 ing secondaries by much less than length of tarsus, the fourth, fifth, or sixth 

 quills longest. (Subfamily Garrulince.} 

 b l . Tail much longer than wing, graduated for half its length or more,. the 



feathers becoming narrower toward tips. 



c l . Nostrils covered by bristles ; head not crested ; orbits partly naked ; 

 wings and tail metallic bluish and greenish, the latter without 



white tips; scapulars pure white Pica. (Page 351.) 



c 2 . Nostrils exposed; head conspicuously crested; orbits entirely feath- 

 ered ; wings and tail plain cobalt-blue, the latter with broad white 



tips; scapulars blue, like back, etc Calocitta. 1 



i 2 . Tail not much longer than wing, not graduated for more than about one- 

 third its length (usually much less), the feathers not becoming narrower 

 toward tips. 

 c 1 . Head, neck, and chest uniform deep black ; back glossy bright blue, in 



abrupt contrast with the black Cissolopha? 



c*. Head, neck, and chest not uniform deep black, or else top of head con- 

 spicuously crested ; back not bright blue, or else top of head same 

 color. 



d 1 . Nostrils exposed ; large (wing more than 7.25, tail more than 

 7.50). (Color chiefly dull brownish.) 



Psilorhinus. (Page 352.) 



d*. Nostrils covered; smaller (wing less than 7.00, tail less than 7.00). 

 e 1 . Color chiefly blue or green. 



1 Calocitta GRAY, List Gen. B. 1841, 50. Type, Picnformosa SWAINS. 



This genus contains two well-known species, one, C. colliei (Vra.), belonging to western Mexico (north 

 to Mazatlan), the other, C.formosa ( SWAINS.), inhabiting southern Mexico, and southward to Costa Rica. A 

 third species probably exists in the wooded districts in the interior of Lower California. C. colliei is perhaps 

 the finest of all Garruline birds, measuring two to two and a half feet in total length (of which the tail consti- 

 tutes about two-thirds) ; the colors are bright and boldly contrasted, while the crown is ornamented by a very 

 conspicuous recurved crest. 



1 Cissolopha BONAP., Consp. i. 1850, 380. Type, Pica sanblasiana LAFR. 



This genus includes two very beautiful species which come close to our limits, both occurring in the state 

 of Sinaloa, western Mexico. The type of the genus, C. srtnblasiana, has the head, neck, upper back, and lower 

 parts uniform deep black, changing to dull blue on under tail-coverts, the upper parts bright cobalt- or azure- 

 blue, becoming ultramarine blue on the tail ; on the forehead there is a slender, hair-like crest, and the nostrils 

 are partly sometimes wholly exposed ; bill and feet usually deep black, sometimes bright yellow ; length 

 about 12.00, wing 5.25-5.50, tail 6.00-6.50. Hab. Western Mexico, north at least to Mazatlan. C. beecheii 

 (Pica beecheii Via., Zool. Jour. iv. 1823, 353) is a larger and still finer species, of similar coloration, but with 

 the blue of a rich smalt shade ; it lacks the frontal crest and has the nostrils completely covered, and may pos- 

 sibly require generic or subgeneric separation from Cissolopha ; length about 15.00-19.00, wing 7.00, tail 7.50- 

 8.50. Hab, Western Mexico (vicinity of Mazatlan, and on Tres Marias). 



