232 



North American Birds Eggs. 



48 I a. Xantus Jay. Aphelocoma califorin ■(( Iii/poleuca. 



Range. — Lower California. 



The habits and nests and eggs of tliis lighter colored variety do not differ 

 from those of the California Jav. 



48 1b. Belding Jay. Apheloromn ndUornica ohscKra. 



Range.— San Pedro Martir Mts., Lower California. 



A darker variety of the California Jay, whose nesting habits will not differ in 

 any essential particular. 



48 1.1. Santa Cruz Jay. Aphelocoma insularis. 



Range.— Santa Cruz Island, California. 



This species is the largest and darkest colored 

 bird of the genus Aphelocoma. It is said to be a very 

 abundant species on the island from which it takes its 

 name, and to have the habits and traits common to all 

 the members of the Jay family. The nesting habits are 

 the same as those of the others, but the eggs are slightly 

 larger, averaging 1.15 x .85. The one figured is from a 

 set of three in the collection of John Lewis Chilcis, taken 

 by R. H. Beck on May 10, 1897. 



482. Arizona Jay. Aphelocoma sieberii arizoiife. 



Range.— Arizona and southwestern New Mexico south into Mexico. 



This species differs from the preceding ones in having 

 the upperparts of a uniform bluish, and in beingwithout 

 streaks on the underparts, and with no dusky ear patches. 

 These birds, while they have the usual Jay traits, are 

 more sociable during the breeding season and often 

 small companies of from two to ten pairs nest in the 

 same clump of trees, placing their nests in crotches at 

 low elevations. The nests are made of small sticks and 

 rootlets and generally lined with finer rootlets or horse 

 hair. The eggs are a bright robin blue color, unmarked 

 and number from three to six. Size 1.20 x .85. 



482a. Couch Jay. A. s. couehi. 



Range.— Eastern Mexico, north to western Texas. 



483. Green Jay. Xanthoura luxuosei glaucescevs. 



Range. — Northeastern Mexico and the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. 



_ This handsome species has a bright blue crown and 



patches under the eyes, the rest of the upper parts being 

 greenish: throat and sides of head black, underparts green- 

 ish white. This gaudy and noisy bird has all tlie habits 

 common to other Jays including that of robbing l)irds' 

 nests. They build generally in tangled thickets or low 

 bushes, placing their nests at a low elevation and making 

 them of twigs, weeds, moss, etc., lined with tine rootlets. 

 Their four or five eggs, which are laid during April or May, 

 are grayish buff in color, spotted with various shades of 

 brown and lavender gray. Size 1.20 x .85. 



Kobin blue. J 



[Grayish buff 



