_ _
CORVIDS. 295
L e n g th , to ta l .
* 4 o f ta il
„ o f w in g
, , o f b ill ab ove
Dimensions.
Inch. Ljn. Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin.
14 0 L e n g th o f b ill to ric tu s . 1 4* L e n g th o f in n e r to e . 0 n
6 3 ,, o f ta rs u s . 1 8 „ o f h in d to e . 0 6 |
. 6
. 1
0
1
„,, o f m id d le to e o f its n a il .
0 11
• 0 4^'
„ o f h in d n a il . 0 51
[9 8 .] 3 . G a r r u l u s C a n a d e n s is . The Whiskey-Jack.
S u b -f a m i l y , Garrulin®, S w a in s . Genus, Garrulus, Briss , V i e i l . Sub-genus, -------- ?
Corvus Canadensis. F o r s t e r , Phil. Trans., lxii., p . 3 8 6 , No. 10.
Cinereous Crow. P e n n . Arct. Zool., ii., p . 2 4 8 , No; 137-
Canada Jay (Corvus Canadensis). W i t s , iii., p . 3 3 , p i. 2 0 , f . 1.
Garrulus fuscus. V i e i l . Ency. M6th., p . 892. Corvus Canadensis. Sab. Frankl. Joum., p . 6 7 2 . B onap. Syn., No. 6 5 .
Q usequseshew , A l g o n q u i n s . W h isk ae-sh aw n eesh , C r e e s .
C h . S p . G a r r u l u s C a n a d e n s is , super murinus ; subter flavescenti-griseus, oecipite et nucha nigris, fronte gutlure ,
lateribusque colli albis.
S p . C h . W h i s k e y - J a c k , b ro w n ish -g re y ab o v e, y e llo w ish -g rey b e n e a th ; h in d h e ad a n d n a p e b la c k ; fo reh ea d ,
th r o a t, a n d sid es o f th e n e c k w h ite .
This inelegant but familiar Jay inhabits the woody districts from latitude 65°
to Canada, and in the winter time makes its appearance in the northern sections
of the United States. Scarcely has the winter traveller in the fur-countries chosen
a suitable place of repose in the forest, cleared away the snow, lighted his fire,
and prepared his bivouac, when the Whiskey-Jack pays him a visit, and boldly
descends into the circle to pick up any crumbs of frozen fish or morsels of pem-
mican that have escaped the mouths of the hungry and weary sledge-dogs.
This confidence compensates for the want of many of those qualities which endear
others of the feathered tribes to man. There is nothing pleasing in the voice,
plumage, form, or attitudes of the Whiskey-Jack; but it is the only inhabitant of
those silent and pathless forests which, trusting in the generosity of man, fearlessly
approaches him ; and its visits were, therefore, always hailed by us with satisfaction.
It is a constant attendant at the fur-posts and fishing-stations, and becomes
so tame in the winter as to eat from the hand; yet it is impatient of confinement,
and soon pines away if deprived of liberty. It hops actively from branch to
branch, but, when at rest, sits with its head retracted and the plumage of the body
very loose. Its voice is plaintive and squeaking; though it occasionally makes