( 475 ) 



BLUE JAY. 



CORVUS CRISTATUS, LiNN. 



PLATE CII. Vol. II. p. 11. 



Although this species proceeds up the Missouri River to the eas- 

 tern declivities of the Rocky Mountains, it is not found on the Colum- 

 bia. Dr Richardson says that it " visits the Fur Countries, in sum- 

 mer, up to the 56th parallel, but seldom approaches the shores of Hud- 

 son's Bay." He is, however, mistaken when he says, that " it frequents 

 the Southern States only in win- 

 ter;" for it is found there at all sea- 

 sons, and breeds in every district 

 of them, as well as in the Texas, 

 where I found it, although it was 

 rare. The eggs measiire an inch 

 and half an eighth in length, and 

 seven-eighths in breadth. 



The roof of the mouth is rather 

 flat, anteriorly with three ridges ; 

 the lower mandible moderately con- 

 cave with a median ridge ; pos- 

 terior aperture of nares linear, 8 

 twelfths long, with the edges pa- 

 pillate ; width of mouth 7^ twelfths. 

 The tongue is 9^ twelfths long, 

 emarginate and papillate at the 

 base, flat above, horny toward the 

 end, with the tip slit and lacerated. 

 The oesophagus, abc,Z^ inches long, 

 6 twelfths wide at the commence- 

 ment, but suddenly tapering to 3 

 twelfths. The lobes of the liver are 

 very unequal, the right being 1 

 inch 2 twelfths in length, the other 9 

 twelfths. The stomach, c rfe, is very 



