308 STELLER’S FAY. 
of the quills and tail-feathers are black. The tarsus is an 
inch and three-quarters long; the femorals, blackish, slightly 
mixed with bluish at the joint ; the feet and nails are entirely 
black. 
This description is taken from the imdividual represented 
in the plate, which was killed near the Oregon or Columbia 
river. Another specimen, from Mexico, also in Mr Lead- 
beater’s collection, exhibited greater brilliancy of plumage, 
being principally distinguished, as nearly as our recollection 
serves, by the black colour 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 Garrulus coronatus- of Mr Swainson in the 
Synopsis before quoted reminded us of the circumstance, 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 west- 
ern territory 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 tableland, 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 
