9i



A Jay new to Aviculture.



The photograph has been enlarged, and shows the parents

and young, but not as clearly as I would wish, owing to the

height of the birds who refused to take a lower seat.



A JAY NEW TO AVICULTURE.


Ca locitta lidth ii.


By Hubert D. Asteey, M.A.


On the 15th or 16th of November, Mr. A. E. Jamrach

received about ten Jays from the L00-CI100 Islands, of which I

purchased a pair. They are Garrulus (or Calocilta ) lidthii , and

look as if they are closely related to the Hunting Crows, or

Cissas.


They are strikingly handsome. About the bill and throat,

the feathers are black, merging almost immediately into a beau¬

tiful deep bluish-purple, which colour covers the head and neck,

as well as the wings and tail ; the back and lower part of the

body being a rich vinous-chestnut, suffused with purple in certain

lights. The outer tail-feathers have white tips, as well as some

of the secondary wing-feathers. The shoulders (scapulars) show

jay-like bars of two shades of the purple-blue. The feathers on

the throat are lanceolate, having white shafts. The bill is pale

horn grey-green, merging to horn white at the tip ; legs and feet

bluish grey ; eyes deep brown.


Like the Cissas, they are very active birds. For many

years it seems that the exact habitat of this beautiful Jay was

unknown ; it was said to come from Japan, or from some island

near that country.


The L00-CI100, or Purple-headed Jay, might serve as a

name to distinguish it. It was called after Professor von Lidtli

de Jeude of Utrecht.


I also bought a very tame specimen of Garrulus bispecularis

(or sinensis), which is found in China and parts of Asia. It is

very like our English Jay, but the whole head and body is pure

cinnamon, and the blue and white barring on the wings is more

extended.


This Jay is I think rather smaller than its English cousin,

and of a finer build.



