202 [April, 184T. 



The distinctions between the two species are very considerable, and may be 

 thus stated. 



Cyanocorax ultramarinus. Cyanocorax Californicus. 



Much larger, 13 to 13 J inches in Length 11J to 12 inches. 



length. 



TT - ,. , , , , , Back brown. A broad line of 



Upper parts entirely blue ; head 



, , , , , . , white spots extending over the eye 



and cheeks blue also, except space l 



, . ., , ,. ,. , . the length of the head, and with the 



between the eye and bill which is s 



black space anterior to the eye and auri- 



culars dusky. 



The blue extending down the sides A crescent of blue surrounds the 



of the neck, but without a pectoral u PP er P art of the breast - 



ban(i - Throat and upper part of breast 



Throat only, whitish; all the rest of whitej streaked with lines of dusky . 



the under parts of a dirty brownish &n the pegt beneath tfae collar of w 



white, darker on the breast. , . i , .. 



' brownish white. 



Length of wing 7 inches. Length of wing nearly 5 inches. 



Tail nearly even, length Gf inches. Tail graduated or much rounded, 



length 5| innhes. 



Tarsus If inches. Tarsus 1| inches. 



The C. ultramarinus by its greater size, blue colour above, and absence of 

 pectoral band, together with its very different proportion, is easily distin- 

 guished from the C. Californicus, which is much smaller, has a brown back, 

 a white superciliary line, and a dull white throat, and breast surrounded by 

 a collar of blue. 



The G. sordidus, Swains. (Syn. Bds. Mex.) generally quoted as a synonym 

 of the ultramarinus, dose not agree very well with it, unless the description 

 were taken from a young bird, in which the tail is irregularly rounded, and 

 the size somewhat less. 



The California Jay is a very abundant species, and a constant resident. 

 In its actions it is exceedingly restless, and at the same time sprightly and 

 graceful, ever flitting from tree to tree, uttering a harsh grating jay, jay, and 

 Sometimes altering it to kayic, hay ic. Like all the Jays, they are very fond 

 of scolding, and a troop of them will surround and follow almost any object 

 that attracts their attention, with their teasing disagreeable cries. 



Pica Hudsonica (Sabine) Bonap. Common Magpie. 



We frequently met with the Magpie on our route from New Mexico to Cali- 

 fornia. It would linger around our camp to pick up the offal, and sometimes 

 boldly steal the meat which was hung on the bushes around. 



Pica Nuttalii, Aud. Nuttall's Magpie. 



I felt great pleasure on arrivingat Santa Barbara, in Upper California, in see- 

 ing in its native haunts, this distinct and beautiful Magpie, discovered by my 

 fijend; the indefatigable naturalist and traveller after whom it is named : 



