steller’s jay. 
229 
cents of black, and tipt with white. Tail of 12 feathers, long, and 
wedged, of a glossy bright blue, marked at small intervals with trans- 
verse curves of black, each feather, except the 2 middle darker ones, 
being tipt with white. Breast and sides under the wings, greyish 
white, tinged with vinaceous. Mouth, tongue, bill, legs, and claws 
black. Iris hazel. 
STELLER’S JAY. 
( Corvus Stelleri , Gmelin. Bonap. Am. Orn. ii. p. 44. pi, 13. fig. 1.) 
Sp. Charact. — Crested; bine; head and neck blackish; seconda- 
ries and tail-feathers slightly banded with black, tail rounded. 
This beautiful Jay was first obtained by the naturalist 
Steller, when Behring’s crew landed upon the northwest 
coast of America ; it has also been found at Nootka Sound, 
and contiguous to the Oregon, or Columbia river, and 
probably extends its residence along the American coast 
as far as California, and the contiguous table land, as a 
specimen has likewise been received from Mexico. Of 
its habits and manners nothing is yet known. 
This species is more than 12 inches long. The crest, head, and 
neck deep brownish black ; the feathers on either side the front 
slightly tipped with azure ; neck and upper part of the back lighter 
brown than the head, lower part of the back becoming light blue, as 
well as the rump and upper tail-coverts. Below, from the neck, blue. 
4th, 5th, and 6th primaries nearly equal and longest ; outer wing- 
coverts and secondaries blue, faintly crossed with obsolete blackish 
lines. Primaries dark dusky, and except the outer ones, at tip, are 
edged or tinged with blue. Tail slightly rounded, 5J inches long, of 
a deep glossy azure, with faint traces of bars. Bill and feet black. 
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