THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 



The adult Jay has the prevailing colour of its plumage 

 vinous brown, palest below, except the lower back and 

 upper tail-coverts, which are white ; the bushy crest is 

 greyish brown streaked with brownish black ; the wings 

 are black margined with white, and the secondaries have 

 a white patch at the base, the innermost one chest- 

 nut tipped with black ; the wing-coverts are black on 

 the inner web, barred on the outer web with black, 

 white, and cobalt-blue in succession ; the tail is black, 

 faintly barred on the basal half with blue, the under 

 tail-coverts white ; from the gape a broad stripe of black 

 extends down each side of the throat, which is greyish 

 white. Bill black ; tarsi and toes brown ; irides pale 

 blue. Length 13 inches. The sexes are alike in colour, 

 and the nestling resembles its parents. 



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