236 JAY. 
out the suitable wooded portions of Europe, down to the Mediter- 
ranean and Black Seas. In North Africa it is represented by 
G. minor, and also by G. cervicalis which has a black crown, white 
ear-coverts, and deep rufous nape; while forms, to which specific 
rank has been accorded by some authorities and denied by others, 
are found intergrading, from the Urals, the Caucasus, Asia Minor 
and Persia eastward, until the extreme of differentiation is reached in 
G. brandtt of Southern Siberia, North China, and the North Island 
of Japan. The race inhabiting the South Island of Japan differs 
from the European bird in having some black on the lores. 
The nest, often commenced early in April, and fairly well con- 
cealed, is an open, cup-shaped structure of short twigs, neatly lined 
with fine roots and grasses ; it is usually not more than twenty feet 
above the ground, in the branches or the outgrowth of the side of a 
tree, or in some high bush. The 5-6 eggs are greenish-grey, 
thickly speckled and often zoned towards the larger end with olive- 
brown, and sometimes scrolled with a few black hair-lines: measure- 
ment 12 by ‘gin. The young at first go about in family parties, 
but subsequently they often unite with others and form bands which 
at times migrate in large streams, chiefly in a westerly direction. 
Thus in the autumn of 1876, and again in that of 1882, immense 
numbers, apparently coming from the great forest regions of Eastern 
Germany, were observed crossing Heligoland during three consecu- 
tive days. The food of the Jay consists chiefly of worms, insects, 
berries, nuts, beechmast, acorns and fruit, but also to some extent 
of the eggs and young of other birds. The natural note is a harsh 
screech, but, as is well known, the bird possesses considerable 
imitative powers. 
The adult male has the head covered with a whitish crest, each 
feather tipped or striped with black; ear-coverts, nape and back 
light vinous-brown ; rump white; tail-feathers black, the exterior 
pair brownish ; primaries dull black with white margins to the outer 
webs ; secondaries deep black with long white basal patches, the 
innermost rich chestnut tipped with black; wing-coverts barred 
alternately with black, white and pale blue; chin pale buff; 
from the base of the bill backwards a black streak; under parts 
buffish-white, turning to rufous on the flanks ; bill dark horn-colour ; 
iris bluish-madder; legs and feet pale brown. Length about 
14°25 in.; wing 7°25 in. The female resembles the male, and the 
young differ little from the adults except in having brown irides. 
