SPELLER’S JAY. 
47 
somewhat of superstitious 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 evolutions 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 brilliant, 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, incumbent, porrect feathers, hiding the nos¬ 
trils. 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 smelling, 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 
