212 BROOKLYN IXSTITUTE MUSEUM. SCIENCE BULLETIN 2. 6. 
are about 17 cm. in diameter by 10 cm. in depth; inside it is 7 cm. in 
diameter by 6 cm. in depth. The eggs, four in number, taken with this 
nest were fresh. They are typical grackle eggs of a soiled greenish 
white color, marked with spots, dashes and irregular streaks of blackish 
brown on an underlying rusty brownish wash. They are ovate in form 
and measure 25.75 >^ 18.5 ; 26.5 x 18.5 ; 25.5 x 18.5 and 24.75 -"^ 18.5 mm. 
Young birds just from the nest were observed on this same date. 
The colors of fresh birds are : eye straw yellow ; bill and feet black. 
CORVIDAE— THE CROWS AND JAYS. 
Only two jays have been recorded from the Orinoco region, Cyano- 
corax violaceus and C. cayanus. Xanthura yncas caerideocephala is re- 
corded from Trinidad and Venezuela^ and is consequently included in 
the following key. 
Key to the Species of Corvid.a.e. 
Upper parts of body (except head and neck) uniform green Xanthura yncas caeruleo~ 
a'. Upper parts not green. 
6. Tail uniform ; no white tips Cyanocorax violaceus. 
b'. Tail feathers tipped with white Cyanocorax cayanus, 
Cyanocorax violaceus DuBus. 
Cyanocorax violaceus DuBus, Bull. Acad. Brux. XI\". 2. 1847. p. 103; 
Berlepsch, Ibis 1884. p. 438 (Angostura) ; Berlepsch & Hartert, 
P- 34- 
Native names Corobero; Chuao. A common species, keeping in 
the tree tops wherever there is tall timber along the water courses ; and 
frequenting groves of mangos, of whose ripe fruit it is very fond. It 
is noisy and jay-like in its actions. 
Colors of fresh birds are : eye seal brown ; bill and feet black. 
A nest and five fresh eggs were taken at Caicara, April 12th. The 
nest was about 9.15 m. from the ground in the top of a tree that stood 
at the edge of a grove of mangos. It was held between upright forks, 
was somewhat bulky and constructed of quite large, long, dry twigs with 
a lining of fine root-like vegetable fibres. It was found before com- 
pletion and visited daily until the five eggs were laid, these being de- 
posited on five consecutive days. The)'- are a bluish white, thickly 
speckled all over with various shades of brown from vinaceous to 
'Sharpe. Cat. Birds. Brit. Mus. III. 1877. p. I3i- 
