493 



in another subgenus, that of Celalyca, by Professor Kaup. It has the entire head and crest jet-black, 

 the throat covered with peculiar lanceolate blackish feathers having a pure white line down the centre ; 

 the blue bars on the wings are extended over the basal half of the secondaries, and on the tail nearly to 

 the end of the terminal portion, the latter being black and then pure white. Dr. Jerdon gives the 

 habitat as " only the North-west Himalayas, extending to Nepal ; not known in Sikhim." I have only 

 had for examination one specimen, from Lord Walden's collection, obtained at Simla. 



The present species closely resembles the Black-headed Jay from the Caucasus and Asia Minor, 

 but is distinguishable by its pure white forehead and cheeks, and different coloration on the 

 back. First described by Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, in 1832, from a specimen obtained by 

 M. Botta on Mount Lebanon; it has subsequently been redescribed by Gene, from the same 

 locality, and by Hemprich and Ehrenberg from Syria. I had considerable difficulty in referring 

 to Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire's original description, as I was unable to get the work, in which he 

 described it, here in England; but finally, on writing to invoke the assistance of my friend 

 M. Jules Verreaux, that gentleman kindly transcribed and sent to me the article in question. 

 The differences on which the species was based are the black head and the form of the beak ; but 

 I do not find that this latter character holds good. 



I observe that Prince Bonaparte (Conspectus, p. 375) and Canon Tristram refer to the present 

 species as Garrulus melanocephalus, Bonelli ; but I am unable to discover where Bonelli described 

 it, though I have carefully searched all the available writings of that naturalist. But little has 

 been written respecting the habits of this bird, which, indeed, appears to differ in no respect, 

 either as regards habits, note, or nidification, from the Common Jay or its close relation, 

 Garrulus krynicki. It has only been met with, so far as is at present known, in Palestine, 

 Syria, and Persia. Canon Tristram, writing on the ornithology of Palestine, states that he " met 

 with it on the Lebanon, where it was very scarce and cautious. On the coast it never occurred 

 till we reached the wooded district of Mount Carmel; and in the scattered oak-groves on the 

 road to Nazareth we obtained our first specimen." 



Mr. Blanford informs me that Major St. John met with it in the oak forests near Shiraz, in 

 Persia (at an altitude of from 4000 to 7000 feet), in the month of June ; but this gentleman is 

 unable to give me any notes respecting its habits. Two eggs of this species, obtained by 

 Mr. Cochrane in Palestine, closely resemble those of Garrulus krynicki in size and colour, but 

 are slightly paler. 



The specimen figured and described is the one from the collection of Lord Walden ; and on 

 the same Plate I have figured, for comparison, the nearest approach to it that I could select out 

 of a series of specimens of Garrulus krynicki. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



3c2 



