276 CROWS, JAYS, MAGPIES, ETC. 



companion it gives its quay-quay-quay-quay-quay and is answered by 

 a high keyed queep-queep-queep-queep — however that may be inter- 

 preted. 



481b. A. C. obscura Anthony. Belding Jay. 



Like calif ornica. but smaller (except bill) and darker. 

 Distribution. — Southern coast district of California to San Gabriel and 

 San Bernardino Mountains ; south to Lower California. 



481.1. Aphelocoma insularis HensL Santa Cruz Jay. 



Upper parts dark purplish blue except for dark brown back and scapu- 

 lars ; breast and sides brownish, under tail coverts blue. Length: 11.50- 

 12.-i5, wing: 0.20-5.80, tail 0.05-6.25. bill 1.15-1.30. 



Distribution. — Santa Cruz Island, southern California. 



482. Aphelocoma sieberii arizonse Bidgw. Arizona Jay. 



L^pper parts dull blue, grayish on back, and sometimes brownish between 

 shoulders ; under parts grayish white, sometimes brownish or huffy gray ; 

 tail decidedly rounded. Length: 11.50-13.00, wing 6.10-6.50, tail 5.65- 

 6.10. 



Bemarks. — This and couchi are the only United States members of the 

 genus Aphelocoma with wings longer than tail. 



Distribution. — Resident in Upper Sonoran zone from southern New 

 Mexico and Arizona south to northern Sonora and Chihuahua. 



Nest. — In oaks, 12 to 30 feet fi'om the ground, niade of sticks and root- 

 lets, sometimes lined with horsehair. Eggs : 4 to 7, plain green. 



Food. — Largely acorns ; but also grasshoppers and other insects, wild 

 fruits and seeds. 



The Arizona jay is an abundant resident of the live-oak belt of 

 the Cliiricahua, Huachuca, Santa Catalina, and some of the other 

 Arizona mountains, from an altitude of from 3000 to 7000 feet. In 

 severe winter weather the jays sometimes come about houses, and 

 can be attracted by bones or meat hung on trees. 



Aphelocoma couchi (Baird). Couch Jay. 



Adults. — Back and scapulars dull grayish blue ; rest of upper parts and 

 sides of head bright azure blue ; throat dull white ; breast brownish gray ; 

 belly and xmder tail coverts pure white. Length: 11.50, wing 5.80-5.90, 

 tail 5.30-5.40, graduated for about .30, bill 1.05-1.10. 



Distribution. — Eastern Mexico, extending to western Texas in the Chisos 

 Mountains. 



Nest. — Made of sticks, lined with rootlets. Eggs : 4, robin's-egg blue. 



In the Chisos :Mountains, Texas, Mr. Bailey, Mr. Fuertes, and Mr. 

 Oberholser found the Couch jay. which was previously known only 

 in Mexico, common from the lower edge of the oaks and junipers to 

 the top of the range. It was especially abundant in the shady gulches 

 near water. Like most other jays, though noisj^ and conspicuous, 

 it was shy and suspicious. During the first half of June old and 

 young were flying together, busily catclnng and eating the large cica- 

 das that swarmed in the oaks. 



