cliv CoRViBffl. BIRDS. TYBANKiDfl:. 
ULTRAMARINE JAY [G. ultramarina). — “ 'J’his 
well-marked species,” says Prof. Baird, “is quite dif- 
ferent in form from the C. californica, having a shorter, 
more even tail, much longer wings and stouter feet. 
'J'he absence of any collar or streaks on the breast 
and throat, of black or white on the sides of the 
head, and of decided ash on the back, are very well- 
marked features. 'I'liere is also much more green in 
the blue of the head. It is found in the valley of 
the Rio Grande, near the coast. Its size is between 
the two latter.” 'I'wo varieties are named by Prof. 
Baird. One is called arizonse, and the other couchi. 
“ 'J'he latter,” says Prof. Baird, “ I shall propose to 
call couchi, in honor of its indefatigable discoverer, 
Lieut. D. A. Couch, of the United States army, 
who, at his own risk and cost, undertook a journey 
into Northern Mexico when the country was swarm- 
ing with bands of marauders, and made large col- 
lections in all branches of zoology, which have 
furnished a great amount of information respecting 
the natural history of our borders.” 
Xantlioura . — This genus is most easily recognized 
by the prevailing green color of the body, the blue 
head, l>lack throat, and yellow outer tail feathers. 
'I'he bill is stouter and larger than in any of our 
other Jays, and the culmen more curved. 'I'he chief 
peculiarity of form is seen in the wings, in which 
the primaries are remarkably short, scarcely longer 
than the longest secondaries and tertials. 'I'hey thus 
reach only about as far as the end of the uppei’ tail 
coverts, instead of much beyond them, a character 
quite peculiar among the American Corvidai, excej)t 
apjn-oximately in Psilorhinus. 
GREEN JAY [Xantlioura incas; var. luxuosa).— 
This is from the valley of the Rio Grande of 'I’exas, 
and southward. 'J'he size of this bird is about the 
same as that of the i)receding. It is peculiar in its 
color, being green above and yellow beneath, glossed 
with green. 'J’he sides of the head and beneath, 
from the bill to the fore-part of the breast, are vel- 
vet-black. 'I'he bill is black, and the feet lead 
color. 
CANADA JAY [Perisoreus canadensis). — 'J'his is a 
genus which includes the dullest colored of the Jays. 
'J'he bill is shorter, and is notched at the tip. It is 
about the size of the smaller Cyanuras. It is found 
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, in the more north- 
ern portion of the continent. Audubon says : “ 'J’he 
Canada Jay breeds in Maine, in New Brunswick, 
and as far north as Labrador. 'J'his bird is not so 
well known as the Blue Jay, but is equally rapacious, 
and resembles the latter in its cry and in its motions. 
Like the latter, also, it occasionally preys upon the 
young of other birds, and will not, when pressed by 
hunger, refuse carrion. 'J’he Canada Jay has been 
observed to arrive in the Hudson River region about 
the commencement of cold weather. It seemed to 
seek the most unfrequented shaded retreats, keeping 
almost constantly on the ground, yet would sometimes, 
toward evening, mount to the top of a small tree and 
repeat its notes— which a little resemble tliose of the 
Baltimore — for a quarter of an hour together ; and 
this it generally did before snow or falling weather.” 
An Alaskan variety is known (var. obscurus), and 
also a Rocky Mountain variety (capitalis.) 
BROWN JAY [Psilorhinus morio). — 'J’his is a fine, 
large species, found in the Rio Grande Valley 
Family— 'I'TRANNID.^. 
'J'he Tyrannidm form a family which is strictly one 
of this hemisphere alone. 'I'hey are largely distrib- 
uted in the tropical parts of America; though one of 
the principal forms is the King-bird, or 'I'yrant Fly- 
catcher, which is so commonly known in the Northern 
States. 'J'hey have a very Shrike-like bill, and 
many of the habits of the Shrike — not only preying 
upon insects, but occasionally attacking other birds, 
reptiles, and even fishes. 'I’heir name is derived 
from their combative habits, as they are so pugna- 
cious as to attack even birds of much greater size 
and power than themselves. 
THE FORKED-TAILED FLY-CATCHER [Mihulm 
tyrannus).- — 'I'liis species claims a place in the Fauna 
of the United States on account of two specimens 
captured in New Jersey, at long intervals, and one 
or two seen by Mr. Audubon in the south-west. 
“ Habitat, South America; accidental in the United 
States.” — Baird. Its length is fourteen inches ; wing, 
four and three quarters ; tail, ten inches; and depth 
of fork, seven inches. 
SCISSOR-TAIL ; SWALLOW-TAILED FLY-CATCHER 
[Milvulus forjicatus). — 'I'liis is an exceedingly grace- 
ful bird, inhabiting 'J’exas and Mexico. It derives 
one of its trivial names from the fact that it opens 
and shuts its tail like the action of a pair of scissors. 
It is thirteen inches in length, and has the same 
length of wing as the latter species. 
KING-BIRD [Tyrannus carol inensis). — This bird, 
called also Bee Martin, is common in all parts, from 
the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains, and is some- 
litties seen in Washington 'I’erritory. It is abundant- 
ly distributed throughout New England as a summer 
resident, arriving from the south about the 1st of 
May. 'I'he pugnacity of the King-bird is proverbial. 
Mr. Samuels describes his habits in this wise : 
“ During the mating and breeding season, if any bird 
approach the neighborhood of its nest, he immediate- 
ly attacks it; and, whether Crow (his particular dis- 
like), Hawk or Jiagle.the intruder is obliged to flee, so 
fierce an onslaught does this little warrior make on 
him. As soon as the cry of a Crow is heard, he is 
all activity ; he flies from the tree where he is 
perching to reconnoitre, uttering his shrill twitter, 
and vibrating his wings in short, quick, nervous 
strokes ; as soon as the Crow appears, the King- 
bird pursues it, his flight now being very swift and 
powerful. As soon as he nears his foe, he flies 
above him, and, darting down on his back and head, 
attacks him with such vigor that the Crow dodges and 
dives to avoid him. He repeats his attack, and follows 
his enemy, sometimes to the distance of a mile or more ; 
then, returning to his mate, he perches on the tree by 
her nest, and twitters a volley of courageous songs.” 
'I’he King-bird, as well as all the Fly-catchers, takes 
its insect food on the wing. See also Vol. i, p. 335 
