Genus III.--Garrulus, Briss. Jay

Birds of America

By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.

VOLUME IV.

GENUS III.--GARRULUS, Briss. JAY.

Bill of moderate length, strong, straight, compressed, rather pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly arched, the ridge scarcely distinct, the sides sloping, the edges nearly straight, sharp, and overlapping, the notches slight, the tip slightly depressed; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length, rather wide, the dorsal line ascending, slightly convex, the sides sloping outwards, the edges direct, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, elliptical, covered by reversed stiffish feathers. Head rather large; neck short; body stout. Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tarsus of ordinary length, compressed, with eight scutella; toes moderate, the first large, the outer considerably longer than the inner; claws well-arched, rather long, compressed, acute. Plumage blended; small bristles at the base of the upper mandible; feathers of the head generally elongated; wings rather short, first quill very short, fourth and fifth longest; tail rather long, much rounded. Roof of upper mandible concave, with three ridges; digestive organs as in Corvus.