Pica glandaria caerulea cristata: The Blue Jay.
Is full as big,
or bigger than Starling: the Bill black; above
the Basis of the upper Mandible are black
Feathers, which run in a narrow stripe cross
the Eyes, meeting a broad black stripe,
which encompasses the Head and Throat: its
Crown-feathers are long, which it erects at
pleasure: the Back of a dusky purple: the
interior vanes of the larger Quill-feathers
black; the exterior, blue, with transverse
black lines cross every feather, and their
ends tipt with white: the Tail blue, mark'd
with the like cross-lines as on the Wings.
They have the like jetting motion of our Jay;
their Cry is more tuneful.
The Hen is not so
bright in colour, except which there appears
no difference.
Smilax laevis Lauri folio baccis nigris: The BAY-LEAVED SMILAX.
This Plant is
usually found in moist places: it sends forth
from its root many green Stems, whose Branches
overspread whatsoever stands near it, to a
very considerable distance; and it frequently
climbs above sixteen foot in height, growing so
very thick, that in Summer it makes an
impenetrable Shade, and in Winter a warm
shelter for Cattle. The Leaves are of the
colour and consistence of Laurel, but in
shape more like the Bay, without any visible
veins, the middle-rib only excepted.
The Flowers are
small and whitish; the Fruit grows in round
Clusters and is a black Berry, containing one
single hard Seed, which is ripe in October,
and is food for some sorts of Birds,
particularly this Jay.
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