JA YS. 



525 



The true and typical jays belong to the genus Garrulus, which is confined to the 

 Palaearctic region, being one of its most characteristic inhabitants. Most of the 

 species are moulded upon the European species (Garrulus glandarius), figured in our 

 cut, and several of them are but slight modifications of this well-known and beautiful 

 bird. Its general color is a delicate vinaceous gray ; on the head it has an erectile 

 black-spotted crest, and the rump is pure white ; but its chief ornaments are the wing- 



FIG. 259. Cyanocitta diailemata, Mexican long-crested jay. 



coverts, which are black, exquisitely barred with white and azure-blue. The draw- 

 ing shows this professional nest-robber in the act of killing an unfortunate nestling. 

 Like the other members of the family the jays are omnivorous, but they are especially 

 fond of eggs and young birds, and may be regarded as eminently injurious, though in 

 spring they consume a number of insects to atone for their sins of stealing fruit and 

 berries in the autumn. 



Our familiar blue-jays (Cyanocitta) are quite nearly related to the above, and 



