580 



U. S. p. K. B. EXP. AND SUEVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GEKEEAL EEPOET. 



Comparative measurements of species. 



CTANUEUS CRIST ATUS, Swainson. 



Blue Jay. 



Corvus cristatus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 10th ed. 1758, 106 ; 12th ed. 1766, 157.— Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 369.— 

 Wilson, Am. Cm. I, 1808, 2 ; pi. i. f. 1.— Bon. Obs. Wilson, 1824, No. 41.— Dodghtt, Cab. 

 N. H. II, 1832, 62 ; pi. vi.— Aud. Cm. Eiog. II, 1834, 11 : V, 1839, 475 ; pi. 102. 



Garry,lus cristalus, " Vieillot, En?yclop. 890."— Ib. Uiot. XI, 477. — Bon. Syn. 1828, 58. — Sw. F. Bor. Am. 11, 

 1831, 293.— Vieillot, Galerie, I, 1824, 160 ; pi. cii.— AoD. Birds Am. IV, 110 ; pi. 231. 



Pica cristata, Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827. Pica, No. 8. 



Cyanurus cristatus, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, App. 495. 



Cyanocorax cristatvs, Bon. List, 1838. 



Cyanocitta cristata, Strickland, Ann. Mag. N. H. 1845, 261.— Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851,221. 



Cyanogarrulus cristatxts, Bon. Consp. 1850, 376. 



Sp. Ch.— Crest about one-third longer than the bill. Tail much graduated. General color above light purplish blue ; wings 

 and tail feathers ultramarine blue ; the secondaries and tertials, the greater wing coverts, and the exposed surface of the tail, 

 sharply banded with black, and broadly tipped with white, except on the central tail feathers. Beneath white ; tinged with 

 purplish blue on the throat, and with bluish brown on the sides. A black crescent on the fore part of the breast, the horns passing 

 forward and connecting with a half collar on the back of the neck. A narrow frontal line and loral region black ; feathers on 

 the base of the bill, blue like the crown. Female rather duller in color and a little smaller. Length, 12.95 ; wing,5.65 ■ tail, 

 5.75. 



Hab. — Eastern North America, west to the Missouri. 



In addition to what has been already stated, there is a narrow black line behind the eye 

 running into the cervical collar, which is overhung by the feathers of the crest ; the posterior 

 concealed ones of these also black. The amount of white on the tail decreases from the exterior. 



