Genus GARRULUS.
G en . C h a r . B i l l shorter than the head, conical, slightly compressed, straight a t th e base, rather
deflected towards th e tip, which is faintly emarginated; th e lower mandible of nearly
equal thickness, and having its culmen equally convex with th a t of th e u p p e r; commissure
stra ig h t; head crested. N o s tr ils basal, lateral, hidden from view b y short setaceous plumes.
W ings rounded, with th e first quill-feather sh o rt; th e fourth, fifth and sixth of nearly equal
length, and th e longest in the wing. T a il square o r slightly rounded. L e g s weaker than
in the genus Corvns. Tarsi longer than the middle to e ; the outer toe joined a t its base to
the middle one, and longer than th e in n e r; hind toe strong, with a dilated sole. Claws
stout, moderately curved and sh a rp ; th a t on th e hind toe stronger and longer than any
o f th e rest.
JAY.
Garrulus glandarius, Briss.
L e Geai.
T h is common but extremely ornamental bird is dispersed over the greater portion of the wooded districts of
Europe, and together with one from the Himalaya mountains, and another which we have seen, truly distinct
from either, form a small but well-defined group, which appears to range intermediate between the latter
group and the Pies (Piets), to which the generic title Garrulus should be strictly limited, to the exclusion
of the Blue Jay of America, and its nearly allied congeners, together with the Garrulus lanceolatus of the
Himalaya mountains. Thus circumscribed, the true Jays will be found to be exclusively peculiar to the Old
World.
The Common Jay of Europe is a noisy, shy, and crafty bird, eluding observation by resorting continually
to the more dense parts of woods and thick hedgerows, and is almost entirely arboreal in its habits, seldom
going on the ground, and when it does, it is among thickets and bushes, which conceal it from view. Its
chief subsistence consists of fruits, berries, and leguminous seeds, while the season lasts, together with the
larvae of insects, worms, grubs, &c., and occasionally the young and eggs of birds. Its propensities render
it extremely mischievous in gardens stocked with fruit trees and leguminous vegetables.
The Jay is a permanent resident in our island, as well as in the temperate portions of Europe. It breeds
in the most secluded coppices and woods, constructing its nest in the fork of a tree ; the nest being formed
externally of small twigs, generally of the birch, and lined with fibres, roots, &c. The eggs are four or five
in number, o f a pale blue, blotched with brown, but the markings are so numerous and minute as to produce
a uniform dull grey.
At certain seasons the Jay assembles in small flocks, probably containing the brood o f the year, which
associate during the winter, until spring leads them to separate into pairs, and commence the great work of
incubation.
There exists no visible difference in the plumage of the male and female, and the young at an early age
closely assimilates to the adult in colouring. In captivity, this bird becomes a favourite, from its pert and
familiar manners, and its aptness in learning words and even sentences.
Bill black, from the base of which a large moustache o f the same colour extends over the cheeks; the top
of the head is covered with a short full crest, the feathers of which are brownish grey, with a central dash of
black, exhibiting as they pass to the occiput faint transverse bars of blue; the whole of the upper surface, as
well as the under, is, with the exception of the upper and under tail-coverts (which are white), of a rich
vinous or reddish ash colour; wings ornamented with a beautiful blue speculum barred with black; the
shoulders chestnut barred with dusky- brown; the primaries are silvery white on their outer edges; the
secondaries are black, except the first three or four feathers, which are white at their base; tail black, the two
middle feathers exhibiting faint indications of blue bars at their base; irides blueish grey ; tarsi brown.
The Plate represents the bird of the natural size.