THE FLORIDA JAY. 
119 
also is the Jay to be met with. I have called the 'palmetto a troublesome 
plant, because its long, narrow, and serrated leaves are so stiff, and grow 
so close together, that it is extremely difficult to walk among them, the 
more so that it usually grows in places where the foot is seldom put with- 
out immediately sinking in the mire to a depth of several inches. 
The nest of the Florida Jay is sparingly formed of dry sticks, placed 
across each other, and, although of a rounded shape, is so light that the bird 
is easily seen through it. It is lined with fibrous roots, placed in a circular 
manner. The eggs are from four to six, of a light olive colour, marked with 
irregular blackish dashes. Only one brood is raised in the season. 
I had a fine opportunity of observing a pair of these birds in confinement, 
in the city of New Orleans. They had been raised out of a family of five, 
taken from the nest, and when I saw them had been two years in confine- 
ment. They were in full plumage, and extremely beautiful. The male was 
often observed to pay very particular attentions to the female, at the approach 
of spring. They were fed upon rice, and all kinds of dried fruit. Their 
cage was usually opened after dinner, when both immediately flew upon the 
table, fed on the almonds which were given them, and drank claret diluted 
with water. Both affected to imitate particular sounds, but in a very 
imperfect manner. These attempts at mimicry probably resulted from their 
having been in company with parrots and other birds. They suffered greatly 
when moulting, becoming almost entirely bare, and required to be kept near 
the fire. The female dropped two eggs in the cage, but never attempted to 
make a nest, although the requisite materials were placed at her disposal. 
I have represented a pair of Florida Jays on a branch of the persimon 
tree , ornamented with its richly coloured fruits. This tree grows to a 
moderate height as well as girth. The wood is hard and compact. The 
leaves drop off at an early period. The fruit, when fully ripe, is grateful 
to the palate. The persimon occurs in all parts of the United States, but 
abounds in the low lands of Florida and Louisiana, probably more than 
in any other portion of the Union. 
Corvus floridanus, Bonap. Syn., p. 58. 
Florida Jay, Garrulus floridanus , Bonap. Amer. Om., vol. ii. 
Florida Jay, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 230. 
Florida Jay, Corvus floridanus , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 444. 
Male, 114, 14. 
Confined to the Floridas. Not very common. Resident. 
Bill, short, strong, straight, compressed, acute ; upper mandible with the 
dorsal outline nearly straight, the sides sloping, the edges sharp and over- 
lapping, the tip slightly decimate ; lower mandible with the back narrow, the 
