CROW TRIBE. 
3i9 
The true jays of the genus Garrulus are principally inhabitants 
True Jays. 0 97 0 . L L ** 
of the northern and temperate regions of the Old World, although 
one species is found in Burma, a second is peculiar to Algeria, and a third is 
confined to Japan. The common European jay ( G. glandarius ) ranges through¬ 
out Europe from Northern Russia and Scandinavia to Spain and Italy; but is 
replaced in Asia Minor by the black-headed jay (G. kynicki ); while in Eastern 
Russia its place is taken by Brandt’s jay (G. brandti), and in Syria by G. syriacus. 
Shunning open country, the jay frequents large woods, where it often nests at only 
a moderate elevation above the ground, laying usually six eggs, of a greyish white 
base of the beak, and are hidden by stiff, forwardly-directed feathers; while the 
feathers of the crown of the head are long and erectile. The majority of the 
species have white upper tail-coverts, and the wings barred with light blue; the 
general colour of the body-plumage being fawn-red. Chiefly frequenting woods, 
where their presence is revealed by their harsh, discordant cries, jays are 
omnivorous, living on almost every description of animal and vegetable substance, 
but changing their diet according to the season. 
COMMON JAY (J liat size). 
