STELLER’S JAY. 
109 
and three-twelfths shorter than the fourth, which is one-twelfth shorter than 
the fifth, the latter being the longest, although scarcely exceeding the sixth. 
Tail long, rounded, of twelve rather broad, rounded, and acuminate feathers, 
of which the shafts are undulated. 
Bill and feet black. Iris hazel. Head and neck, with the fore part and 
middle of the back brownish-black, of a lighter tint on the back, and on the 
throat streaked with dull grey ; the feathers on the forehead tipped with 
bright blue ; the hind part of the back, the rump, and the upper tail-coverts 
light blue ; as are the lower tail-coverts, the sides and lower parts of the 
rump, the sides of the body, and the whole of the breast ; the middle of the 
abdomen paler, the tibial feathers, and the lower wing-coverts dusky, tinged 
with blue. Wings blue, the secondary coverts and quills rich indigo and 
ultra-marine, narrowly barred with black, the outer coverts of the primaries 
pale ; the inner webs of the primaries and outer secondaries dusky ; tail 
blue, with numerous narrow, inconspicuous dusky bars ; the lower surface 
of the wings and tail dusky. 
Length to end of tail 13 inches ; bill along the ridge, 1/1, along the 
edge of lower mandible 1 T 4 ^ ; wing from flexure 5H 5 tail 6 ; tarsus 1 T V ; 
hind toe j-*, its claw T y ; middle toe its claw f 5 y. 
The female is similar to the male, and scarcely inferior in colouring, but 
somewhat smaller. 
Length to end of tail 12 inches ; bill along the ridge 1| ; wing from 
flexure 5y ; tail 5i ; tarsus l, 8 , ; middle toe fl, its claw yV 
Mr. Townsend informs me that it is called Ass-ass by the Chinooks, who 
regard it with a superstitious feeling, believing that should a person hear 
it enunciating certain notes, which resemble the syllables jaa-jaa, he will 
shortly die, whereas its other notes, kuc, kuc, kuc, kuc, rapidly repeated, 
portend good. He further states that it is gregarious, like the Blue Jay, 
and corroborates some of the particulars above given. 
Two eggs presented to me by Mr. Nuttall measure an inch and an 
eighth in length, and seven-eighths in breadth. 
*r 
Vol. IY. 
15 
