1899.] VAN DENBURGH — BIRDS OF SANTA CLARA CO., CAL. l67 



Sayornis nigricans. Black Phcebe. 



This phoebe is common in all parts of the county and, even in the . 

 foothills where snow sometimes lies on the ground a few days in 

 winter, is resident throughout the year. It begins to nest early in 

 April, but fresh eggs may sometimes be found in June. 



Contopus richardsonii. Western Wood Pewee. 



The Western wood pewee is a common summer resident, arriv- 

 ing usually in April and leaving in September, or even late in 

 August. It begins to nest early in June (June 4, 1892). 



Empidonax difficilis. Western Flycatcher. 



This flycatcher is a very common summer resident and breeds 

 abundantly from May to July (May 4, 1 891, to July 4, 1890). Its 

 nests are built in all sorts of situations. One was made of grasses 

 and green moss in some ferns which hung over the bank of a road. 

 Others are made almost entirely of spider-web and placed on beams 

 in low sheds such as cow-stables and hen-houses. The eggs are 

 usually either three or four. The love-call of the male is f6e-iss 

 fee-iss, repeated over and over again. 



Oiocoris alpestris chrysolcBjna. Mexican Horned Lark. 



I have never seen the horned lark at Los Gatos, though it is 

 not rare only a few miles away in the valley. 



Pica nuttalli. Yellow-billed Magpie. 



This magpie breeds abundantly in the eastern and southern por- 

 tions of the county, but I have never seen it in the western foothills. 



Cyanocitta stellej'i frontalis. Blue-fronted Jay. 



At Los Gatos these jays are numerous throughout most of the 

 year, but during the breeding season are almost never seen. Prob- 

 ably a few remain to breed in the deeper canons, while the majority 

 retire to the redwoods of Santa Cruz county. They are able 

 mimics, and imitate perfectly the calls of the red-tailed hawk, quail 

 and several other birds. One, which I kept in a cage with a num- 

 ber of small birds, killed and ate a golden-crowned sparrow. 



Aphelocoma californica. California Jay. 



These jays are very common and are very destructive to fruit. 

 Their eggs may be found from the middle of March to the middle 



