AVES—JAY. 483 
This Lird is eleven inches in length: his head is ornamented with a crest 
of light blue or purple feathers, which he can elevate or depress at pleasure. 
Whole upper parts light blue or purpie, a collar of black passes down each 
side of the neck, and forms a crescent on the upper part of the breast, 
The* under parts are white. The tail is long, and light blue, tipped with 
black. 
CANADA JAY. 
Tuts species inhabits the country from Hudson’s Bay to the river St. Law- 
rence; also in winter, the inland parts of the state of Maine, and northern 
parts of the states of Vermont and New York. When the season is very 
severe with deep snow, they sometimes advance farther south ; but generally 
return northward as the weather becomes mild. The character of this bird 
by the people of those parts of the country it inhabits, is, that it feeds on 
black moss, worms, and even flesh; when near habitations or tents, it pilfers 
every thing it can come at— is very bold, and comes even to the tents to eat 
meat out of the dishes ;— watches the hunters while baiting their traps for 
martens, and devours the bait as soon as their backs are turned; that they 
breed early in the spring, building their nests on pine trees, forming them 
of sticks and grass; that they fly in pairs; lay up hoards of berries in hol- 
low trees; are a kind of mock-bird; and when caught, pine away though 
their appetite never fails them. They are, we are informed, detested by the 
natives. 
The Canada jay is eleven inches long, of a dull leaden gray color; the 
under parts are brownish white. The whole plumage on the back is long 
coose, and in great abundance. 
SE hyn Rs I ACY 2 
_ Tuts elegant bird is more than twelve inches long. The head, neck, and 
erest, and part of the back, are of a brownish black, the throat grayish, and 
the rest of the plumage of a beautiful blue. The feathers on the front of the 
head are tipped with blue. One specimen of this bird was shot near 
Columbia River, and another of more brilliant plumage, in Mexico. Of its 
habits little or nothing is known. It inhabits the western territories of the 
United States, beyond the Rocky Mountains; and is known on the coast of 
America, from California to Nootka Sound. 
__ 
1 Corvus Canadensis, Lin. 2 Corvus Stelleri, GMEL, 
