STELLER'S JAY. 253 



blackish, slightly mixed with bluish at the joint ; the feet and nails are 

 entirely black. 



This description is taken from the individual represented in the plate, 

 which was killed near the Oregon, or Columbia river. Another specimen, 

 from Mexico, also in Mr. Leadbeater's collection, exhibited greater 

 brilliancy of plumage, being principally distinguished, as nearly as our 

 recollection serves, by the black color of the anterior parts being less 

 extended, and by having more of silvery bluish (indicated in our bird) 

 on the front, extending to the throat and eyebrows, and somewhat round 

 the head. This, without any hesitation, we considered as a more perfect 

 specimen, a mere variety of age, and would have had our figure made 

 from it : but having been informed that an English ornithologist (his 

 name and that of the species were not mentioned, or if they were, we 

 have forgotten them) considered it as a new Mexican species, we have 

 preferred, notwithstanding our conviction, strictly copying the less 

 brilliant specimen procured in the United States territory, to the more 

 beautiful one from Mexico. The appearance of Grarrulus coronatus of 

 Mr. Swainson, in the synopsis before quoted, reminded us of the cir- 

 cumstance, and we have therefore quoted it with doubt. Our two birds 

 agree perfectly in markings and dimensions. Of the habits of the 

 Steller's Jay, little or nothing is known. It inhabits the western terri- 

 tory of the United States, beyond the Rocky Mountains, extending along 

 the western coasts of North America, at least from California to Nootka 

 Sound ; is common on the Oregon, and found also in Mexico, on the 

 table land, and in Central America. 



It is a curious fact in ornithological geography, that of the four Jays 

 now admitted into the Fauna of the United States, while the common 

 Blue Jay, the only eastern representative of the genus, spreads widely 

 throughout the continent, the three others should be confined in their 

 range, each to a particular section of country. Thus the Canada Jay 

 is the northern, the Florida Jay is the southern, and the present the 

 western representative of the genus. It is probable that another species 

 at least, our Grarrulus ultramdrinus, from Mexico, will soon be admitted 

 as the central Jay. To the latter bird, Mr. Swainson, who had pro- 

 bably not seen my paper describing it (published more than two years 

 ago in the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences) gives the name 

 of Cr. sordidus ; at least judging from his short phrase, and the dimen- 

 sions and locality, they are the same. 



