362 CYANEAN JAY. 



down the back: the tail feathers are violet to a 

 considerable distance from the base, then crossed 

 by a broad black bar, and tipped with white; but 

 the t wo middle feathers are violet-coloured through- 

 out their whole length, except the tips, which are 

 white. Monsr. Levaillant observes that the bill 

 in this species is, properly speaking, not red, but 

 orange-coloured; and the legs the same: the size 

 of the bird is nearly that of the European Jay, 

 but the length of the tail gives the body a more 

 slender and elegant aspect. It is a native of 

 China, where it is said to be highly esteemed both 

 for its beauty and docility, and is often kept in 

 aviaries and cages. 



cYAN^iA'isr jXV. 



Corvus cyaneus. C. suhviolaceo-cmruleus, sublus pallidus, capiie 



nigro, Cauda longa cuneata, rectricihus apice albis, 

 Subviolaceous-blue Jay, pale beneath, with black head, and 



long cuneated tail with white tips. 

 Corvus Cyanus. C. cinereus, vertice atro-nitido, alis caudaquc 



cuneiformi cyaneis, rectiicibus intennediis apice atbis. Lath, 



ind. orn. 



Corvus Cyanus. PalL it, 3, p, 6q4. 

 Blue Crow. Lath. syn. 



Greatly allied to the Red-Billed Jay, which it 

 nearly equals in size, but the tail is considerably 

 shorter in proportion, and more regularly cune- 

 ated, the two middle feathers not much exceeding 

 the length of the rest : the head is sometimes 

 slightly crested ^ and the smaller wing-feathers 



