STELLER’S JAY. 
407 
black plumage and offensive odour, which cause them to be 
viewed every where with disgust, and even somewhat of super- 
stitious dread, are far from being characteristics of the neat and 
elegant jays. 
The true Corvi are distinguished by the following traits : — 
Bill, very stout ,* feet, very strong ; general form, robust ; flight, 
highly sustained, straight, or circular, as if performing evolu- 
tions in the air. They live, travel, and breed in large bands ; 
affect wide plains and cultivated grounds, only retiring to the 
adjacent forests to roost, and are always seen on high and 
naked trees, but never on thickets, shrubs, or bushes. Their 
voice is deep and hoarse. They are more or less fond of 
cattle, some species preying on the vermin that infest them. 
Though devouring all kinds of food, yet their propensity is 
decidedly carnivorous. Their black, unvaried colours, are 
remarkably opposed to the bright and cheerful vesture of the 
jays, whose plumage is of a much looser texture, the feathers 
being longer and much more downy. 
The jays are again more particularly distinguished from the 
magpies by their head-feathers being long and silky, and 
always erectile, (especially when the bird is excited or angry,) 
even when they are not decidedly crested, as is the case in 
many species. Their colours are also gayer, and more bril- 
liant, with more or less of blue. The species of both these 
sections are garrulous, noisy, and inquisitive. Together with 
the crows, they are eminently distinguished by their stout, 
cultrate bill, generally covered at base with setaceous, incum- 
bent, porrect feathers, hiding the nostrils. The female is 
similar to the male in appearance, and the young differ but 
little, and only during the first year, from the adult. They 
are very shy, suspicious, possessed of an acute sense of smell- 
ing, and evince great sagacity in avoiding snares. They are 
omnivorous in the fullest extent of the word, feeding on grains, 
insects, berries, and even flesh and eggs. When they have 
caught a small bird, which they can only do when feeble and 
sickly, or ensnared, they place it under their feet, and with 
