WILSON'S 

 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



BLUE JAY. {Corvus cristatus) 



PLATE I.— Fig. 1. 



Linn. Syst. i. p. 157, 158. — Garrulus Canadensis coeruleus, Briss. ii. p. 54, 2. t. 4. 

 fig. 2. — Pica glandaria cristata, Klein, p. 61, 3. — Le geay bleu du Canada, 

 Buff. iii. p. 120. PL enl. 529."— Blue Jay, Catesb. Car. i. 15.— Edw. 239.— 

 Arct. Zool. ii. No. 38.— Lath. Syn. i. p. 386, 20.— Bartram, p. 290.— Peale's 

 Museum, No. 1290. 



GARRULUS CRISTATUS.— Vieillot. 



Garrulus cristatus, Vieill. Gal. des Ois. pi. 102. — North. Zool. ii. p. 293. — 

 Bonap. Synop. No. 63. — Pica cristata, Wagl. No. 8. 



This elegant bird, which, as far as I can learn, is peculiar to 

 North America, is distinguished as a kind of beau among the 

 feathered tenants of our woods, by the brilliancy of his dress ; 

 and, like most other coxcombs, makes himself still more 

 conspicuous by his loquacity, and the oddness of his tones 

 and gestures. The jay measures eleven inches in length ; 

 the head is ornamented with a crest of light blue or purple 

 feathers, which he can elevate or depress at pleasure ; a 

 narrow line of black runs along the frontlet, rising on each 

 side higher than the eye, but not passing over it, as Catesby 

 has represented, and as Pennant and many others have 

 described it ; back and upper part of the neck, a fine light 



VOL. I. A 



