urocissa

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A genus of Asiatic Corvidæ, with very long and much-graduated tail, like a magpie's, the central feathers long-exserted, the wings short, the head crestless and without wattles, and the bill stout. Four species range from the Himalayan region into Burma, Siam, and China: U. occipitalis, U. magnirostris, U. erythrorhyncha (the red-billed jay and black-headed roller of Latham, with a coralline beak), and U. flavirostris (yellow-billed); a fifth, U. cœrulea, inhabits Formosa. They are large handsome jays, 20 to 24 inches long, of which the tail is a foot or more. Blue is the leading color. See cut in preceding column.