STELLER'S JAY. 109 



and three-twelfths shorter than the fourth, which is one-twelfth shorter than 

 the fifth, the latter being the longest, although scarcely exceeding the sixth. 

 Tail long, rounded, of twelve rather broad, rounded, and acuminate feathers, 

 of which the shafts are undulated. 



Bill and feet black. Iris hazel. Head and neck, with the fore part and 

 middle of the back brownish-black, of a lighter tint on the back, and on the 

 throat streaked with dull grey; the feathers on the forehead tipped with 

 bright blue; the hind part of the back, the rump, and the upper tail-coverts 

 light blue; as are the lower tail-coverts, the sides and lower parts of the 

 rump, the sides of the body, and the whole of the breast; the middle of the 

 abdomen paler, the tibial feathers, and the lower wing-coverts dusky, tinged 

 with blue. Wings blue, the secondary coverts and quills rich indigo and 

 ultra-marine, narrowly barred with black, the outer coverts of the primaries 

 pale; the inner webs of the primaries and outer secondaries dusky; tail blue, 

 with numerous narrow, inconspicuous dusky bars; the lower surface of the 

 wings and tail dusky. 



Length to end of tail 13 inches; bill along the ridge 1^|, along the edge 

 of lower mandible lyf ; wing from flexure 5-}|; tail 6; tarsus lyg-; hind toe 

 }f, its claw T 7 2; middle toe \%, its claw ^. 



The female is similar to the male, and scarcely inferior in colouring, but 

 somewhat smaller. 



Length to end of tail 12 inches; bill along the ridge 1|; wing from flexure 

 5^; tail 5|-; tarsus 1^; middle toe |A, its claw f^. 



Mr. Townsend informs me that it is called Jiss-ass by the Chinooks, 

 who regard it with a superstitious feeling, believing that should a person 

 hear it enunciating certain notes, which resemble the syllables jaa-jaa, he 

 will shortly die, whereas its other notes, hue, hue, hue, hue, rapidly repeat- 

 ed, portend good. He further states that it is gregarious, like the Blue Jay, 

 and corroborates some of the particulars above given. 



Two eggs presented to me by Mr. Nuttall measure an inch and an 

 eighth in length, and seven-eighths in breadth. 



Vol. IV. 15 



