STELLER’S JAY. 
411 
outer vanes of the feathers, the inner being slightly tinged 
with dusky ; an indication of obliterated, transverse blackish 
lines, may be perceived in certain lights on almost all the tail- 
feathers in our specimen, and we have no doubt that on 
others they are more marked; the shafts both of the quills 
and tail-feathers are black. The tarsus is an inch and three 
quarters long; the femorals, blackish, slightly mixed with 
bluish at the joint ; the feet and nails are entirely black. 
This description is taken from the individual represented in 
the plate, which was killed near the Oregan, or Columbia 
Kiver. Another specimen, from Mexico, also in Mr Leadbeat- 
er’s collection, exhibited greater brilliancy of plumage, being 
principally distinguished, as nearly as our recollection serves, 
by the black colour of the anterior parts being less extended, 
and by having more of silvery bluish (indicated in our bird) 
on the front, extending to the throat and eyebrows, and some- 
what round the head. This, without any hesitation, we con- 
sidered as a more perfect specimen, a mere variety of age, and 
would have had our figure made from it ; but having been in- 
formed that an English ornithologist (his name and that of the 
species were not mentioned, or, if they were, we have forgot- 
ten them) considered it as a new Mexican species, we have 
preferred, notwithstanding our conviction, strictly copying the 
less brilliant specimen procured in the United States territory, 
to the more beautiful one from Mexico. The appearance of 
Garruliis coronatus of Mr Swainson, in the Synopsis before 
quoted, reminded us of the circumstance, and we have there- 
fore quoted it with doubt. Our two birds agree perfectly in 
markings and dimensions. Of the habits of the Steller’s jay, 
little or nothing is known. It inhabits the western territory of 
the United States, beyond the Rocky Mountains, extending 
along the western coasts of North America, at least from Ca- 
lifornia to Nootka Sound ; is common on the Oregan, and 
found also in Mexico, on the table land, and in Central 
America. 
