The credit of having first discovered it within the limits of the United States is due to Col. George A. M‘Call, Inspector General of the United States Army, who sent specimens to the Philadelphia Academy, from Texas, several years since, and who has most kindly favored us with the following note:
“The first specimens of this Jay that I saw within the territory of the United States, were in the forests that border the Rio Grande, on the south-western frontier of Texas. There they were mated in the month of May, and no doubt had their nests in the extensive and almost impenetrable thickets of Mimosæ, which are commonly denominated Chaparral. Of the number of their eggs, or the description of their nests, I learned nothing, not having been able to discover their abode, precisely; but from the jealousy and pugnacity which they manifested on the approach or appearance of the large boat-tailed blackbird of that country (Quiscalus macrourus,) which was nesting in great numbers in the vicinity, I felt satisfied that the Jays were, at the time, also engaged in the duties of incubation and rearing their young. In character or temperament they appeared to be very active and lively, though less noisy than some other species of their family, and their gay plumage was exhibited to advantage as they flitted from tree to tree, or dashed boldly in pursuit of such of their more plainly attired neighbors as ventured to intrude upon their domain.”
Captain J. P. M‘Cown, another accomplished officer of the United States Army, also observed this bird in Texas, to the natural history of which country he has contributed a large amount of most valuable information. From the interesting memoranda which he has very generously and promptly furnished for our use in the present work, we make the following extract:
“During the several years that I was in Texas, I frequently saw this Jay, but never above Ringgold Barracks or north of the woods which skirt the Rio Grande. It appeared to prefer the Acacia groves which have sprung up where the ground has been overflowed. Though I have shot numerous specimens it is rather a cautious bird. I have seen nests high up in the trees alluded to, and always supposed them to belong to this species, but was never clearly satisfied, though I have no doubt that it breeds in Texas.”
The figure in our plate is about three-fourths of the natural size.
The plant represented is the Salvia coccinea, which is a native of the southern parts of North America.
DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.
Genus Cyanocorax, Boie, in Oken’s Isis, 1826, part II., p. 977.
Bill rather large and strong, with the ridge of the upper mandible curved gradually from the base to the point—ridge of the lower mandible curved upwards. Nostrils at the base of the bill, in rather a large membrane, and partially concealed by projecting feathers. Wings moderate, rather rounded, fourth, fifth and sixth primaries usually longest; secondaries long, exceeding some of the shorter primaries. Tail rather lengthened and rounded; tarsi robust, rather long; toes and claws strong. Head usually with a crest or with the frontal plumes erect and crest-like. Plumage of various colors, mostly with some part of greater or less extent, blue. Exclusively American. Type C. pileatus. (Wagler.)
Cyanocorax luxuosus. (Lesson.) Garrulus luxuosus. Lesson Revue Zoologique 1839, p. 100. (Paris.) Cyanocorax luxuosus. (Less.) Du Bus, Esquisses Ornithologiques, part IV. pl. 18. (Brussels.)