274 CROWS, JAYS, MAGPIES, ETC. 



Distribution. — Resident in Canadian zone in British Columbia and the 

 northern Rocky Mountain region, south to the AVasatch Mountains, and 

 from Wyoming- west to eastern Oregon and Washington. 



Nest. — As described by Ridgway, base of coarse fir sticks with mud 

 bowl lined with fine wiry roots, saddled on a horizontal branch, 15 feet 

 from the ground, containing 3 eggs, similar to those of stelleri. 



GENUS APHELOCOMA. 



General Characters. — Head not crested, tarsus longer than middle toe 

 with claw. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



1 . Tail shorter than wing. 



2. Tail 5.50 or less COUChi, p. 276. 



2'. Tail more than 5.50 arizonse, p. 276. 



1 . Tail longer than wing. 

 2, Back slaty gray. East of Sierra Nevada . . -woodhouseii, p. 274. 

 2'. Back brown. 

 3. Sides of head blackish. 



4. Larger and lighter. Sierra Nevada to Pacific. 



calif ornica, p. ■275. 

 4'. Smaller and darker. Southern coast district . obscura, p. 276. 

 3'. Sides of head blue. 



4. Upper parts, except back, bright blue. 



5. Chest broadly streaked with white . . . cyanotis, p. 274. 



5'. Chest obsoletely streaked with grayish . . texana, p. 275. 



4'. Upper parts, except back, dark purplish blue, insularis, p. 276. 



480. Aphelocoma woodhouseii (Baird). Woodhouse Jay. 



Upper parts dull blue except for slate grat/ back and scapulars ; under 

 parts gray except for blue tail and under tail coverts, and throat, which is 

 ivhitish streaked with dark gray. Young : back darker than in young of 

 calif ornica ; under parts dark gray instead of white. Length : 11.50-12.75, 

 wing 4.70-5.35, tail 5.20-6.20, bill .93.-1.06. 



Distribution. — Resident in Upper Sonoran zone from southeastern Ore- 

 gon south along the east side of the Sierra Nevada to northern Mexico, and 

 east to Montana, Colorado, and Texas. 



Nest. — Found at Frescott, Arizona, a small, slight platform of sticks 

 lined with fine roots and horsehair, placed in the centre of a thick bush 

 about 5 feet from the ground. Eggs : 3 to (>, pale green, sparingly flecked 

 over the whole surface with irregular brown and lavender markings, 

 usually heaviest about the larger end. 



Food. — Varied, including insects, acorns, and pine nuts. 



The habits of the Woodhouse jay are similar to those of the Cali- 

 fornia jay (see p. 275). 



480.1. Aphelocoma cyanotis Bidgw. Blue-eared Jay. 



Head, wings, and tail, bright blue ; back dark slaty broivn, washed with 

 blue ; sides of head blue like top of head ; under parts light grayish blue, 

 broadly streaked with white ; lower part of breast brownish gray, changing 

 to white on belly. Length (skin) : 11.50, wing 5.40, tail 5.70, exposed cul- 

 men .95. 



Distribution. — Mexican tablelands north casually to Sutton County, 

 Texas. 



