CROW. 21 



elegantly barred, rich blue and black alternately, the rest black ; 

 quills part ash-colour, part black ; the base of some, and the edges 

 of others white ; the inner ones chestnut, with black tips ; rump 

 white; tail black, the feathers edged with dusky, the outer ones 

 wholly dusky ; legs brown. 



The female differs chiefly in the colour being less brilliant. 



The Jay is not uncommon in all the woods of this kingdom ; is a 

 restless and noisy species, alarming by its screams the rest of the 

 feathered tribe, on the approach of any one; yet at intervals has a sort 

 of note not unpleasant ; it will also imitate the cries of various 

 animals in the wild state ; but when kept tame, may be taught to 

 mimic many more ; and we have witnessed one that mewed so 

 exactly like a cat as to be mistaken for one. — The Jay feeds on 

 various things, especially fruit, and grains, also acorns ; likewise 

 birds eggs, and sometimes the parent birds, as well as mice ; makes 

 the nest in woods, of sticks, fibres of roots, &c. and lays five or six 

 eggs, the size of those of a Pigeon, cinereous-olive, marked with 

 paler brown.* 



This species is by no means so far spread as many of its congeners : 

 said to be common in France, Italy, and Spain, as far as the woody 

 parts in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar, but not on the rock itself; 

 frequents the woods of Russia and Siberia, but not beyond the Lena. 

 Georgi mentions its being near the Lake Baikal ; and Russel at 

 Aleppo. I have also seen it in drawings done in China, f and there- 

 fore we may suppose it indigenous to that country. Both in Sweden 

 and Spain it is brought to market promiscuously with other birds for 

 the table, but is rarely used for this purpose in England. 



I have observed only two Varieties, the one wholly white,J the 

 other with white quills only, the rest of the bird as in common.§ 



* In Sepp's Plate they are white. 



f Gen. Syn. i. 386. . A. Said to be frequent there. Penn. China, p. 193. 



X Gen. Syw.i.386. A. Donov. pi. 34. § Spalomk. Vog. i. t.2. 



