92 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



retired portions of the neighboring mountains, the young leaving the nest 

 early in July. During the winter months they collect in immense flocks ; 

 sometimes, as I witnessed in at least one instance, to the extent of a thousand 

 or more. These large companies scour the country about, flying restlessly 

 and noisily from place to place, and generally scattering over a considerable 

 area. They are shy and wary, so that, notwithstanding their numbers, they 

 are difficult to shoot. Their food is chiefly seeds, berries and nuts, especially 

 the nuts of the Pinus edulis, and the berries of Juniperus pachydermia. They 

 alight much on the ground, where their gait is firm, erect and easy. Their 

 flesh is quite palatable. 



Iris brown. Bill and feet black; soft parts of mouth rose red; corneous 

 parts black. Males range from 11-50 to 12.00 in length, by from 16-50 to 

 19-00 in extent ; the females from 11-00 to 11-50 in length, by 1625 to 18-00 

 in extent. Differences in length are by no means always accompanied by 

 corresponding discrepancies in extent of wings. The intensity of the blue is 

 liable to great variation, as is also the distinctness of the white gular streaks. 

 The blue of the head usually merges quite insensibly into the grayish blue of 

 the back ; but there is often quite a distinct line of demarcation. Specimens 

 in poor plumage have frequently light gray primaries. 



179. Cyanocitta Woodhousei (Baird.) 



Cyanocorax californica, Woodhouse, in Sitgreave's Rep. Expl. Col. 



and Zufii R. 1853, p. 77. (San Francisco Mts.) 

 Cyanocitta Woodhousei, Baird. B. N. A., 1858, p. 5S5. 



Resident, and exceedingly abundant, being the most characteristic species. 

 Found in all situations ; but rather shuns dense pine woods and keeps on the 

 open hill-sides, among the scrub oaks. etc. In winter collects in rather large 

 flocks, sometimes as many as fifty ; usually, however, seen in little companies 

 of half a dozen individuals. A restless, vigilant, shy, and noisy species. 



Males average 12-00x16-50; females about 11-25x15-50. In moult, ex- 

 amples are often seen with gray like that of the dorsal patch intercalated with 

 the blue of the head. Iris brown ; bill and feet black. Mouth dull bluish 

 white. 



I think there is no doubt of the propriety of separating the southern Rocky 

 Mountain Cyanocitta from the true californica of the Pacific coast. The 

 characters as detailed by Baird, ut supra, are very constant and quite 

 appreciable. 



It is very probable that C. californica and C. Woodhousei will be found 

 associated at certain portions of the Colorado desert, as for example along the 

 Mojave river. 



(180.) Cyanocitta sordida (Sw.) Baird. 



Chiefly a Mexican species, but extending northward to the Gila Valley. 

 Fort Buchanan, Dr. B. J. D. Irwin, U. S. A. Copper mines, J. H. Clark. 



181. Cyanura macrolopha Baird. 



Common ; resident. Almost exclusively pinicoline. Generally found in 

 small companies : never congregating to the extent even which C. Woodhousei 

 does. Very shy, vigilant, noisy and tyrannical. 



A very young bird taken July 22, on the San Francisco mountains, besides 

 being smaller, and having a weaker bill and feet, differs considerably from the 

 adult in colors. The upper parts are rather smoky brown than blue ; and 

 this color also invades the rump. Below the colors are also fuliginous ; only 

 a slight leaden or grayish cast indicating the future bright blue. At the same 

 time the wings and tail are nearly as bright blue as in the adult ; but the 

 black bars upon them are very obsolete, or wanting altogether. There is 

 considerable of a crest, but its color is fuliginous black instead of deep glossy 

 black ; and there are no traces of the white front and white about the eyes. 

 The crest is about as long as that of an adult Stelleri. 



[March, 



