168 VAX DENBURGH — BIRDS OF SANTA CLARA CO., CAL. [Nov. 17, 



of May (March 17, 1892, to May 16, 1889). Like the blue-fronted 

 species this jay eats a great many bay-nuts, acorns and almonds. 

 These it carries to some suitable situation, such as a fence rail or 

 the limb of a tree, and, holding them with one foot, deftly cracks 

 them with its bill. I have known it to eat the eggs of Anna's 

 hummingbird, the house finch, the green-backed goldfinch and the 

 brown towhee. 



Corvus americanus. American Crow. 



I have never seen the crow in this county, but Mr. J. M. Hyde 

 tells me that he has found it near Gilroy, where it probably breeds. 



Xatithocephalus xanthocephalus. Yellow-headed Blackbird. 



5 This handsome bird breeds in considerable numbers in the 



marshes south of San Jose. 



■ Sternella magna neglecta. Western Meadow Lark. 



This was formerly a very common resident in all parts of the 

 valley, but of late years the converting of grain fields into orchards 

 has resulted in a great restriction of its territory. As a songster it 

 is with us probably without an equal, unless the black-headed gros- 

 beak or the California thrasher share its honors. The number 

 vof its eggs ranges from four to six. I have found fresh eggs from 

 April 3 (1889) to May 31 (1890). Once in the breeding season, 

 I shot oae of these larks which had several wasps in its bill. 



Jcterus bidlocki. Bullock's Oriole. 



Bullock's oriole is a common summer resident which breeds 

 abundantly in the valley, but rarely if ever in the foothills west of 

 Los Gatos. It arrives about the middle of April (April 18, 1889 ; 

 April 16, 1892; April 8, 1893) ^'^^ begins to nest a week or two 

 ;later (April 20, 1893). It is seen occasionally after the middle of 

 August (August 17, 1892). 



Scolecophagus cyanocephaliis. Brewer's Blackbird. 



In many parts of the valley these noisy birds breed abundantly 

 in April and May. Most of the nests that I have seen were in live- 

 oak or cypress trees, usually close to water. The usual number of 

 eggs is five, though sometimes only four are found. I believe that 

 only one brood is reared each year. Small flocks remain through 

 the winter. 



