490 LAND BIRDS 



Nevada. As in the case of the coast jay, eggs and young 

 of other birds form a part of the menu of the Blue- 

 fronted, together with acorns, pinon nuts, insects, and 

 fruit. 



481. CALIFORNIA JAY. — Aphelocoma califomica. 



Family : The Crows, Jays, Magpies, etc. 



Length: 11.50-12.25. 



Adults: Upper parts blue ; back and scapulars brownish gray ; sides of 



head grayish black ; under parts white, washed with bright blue on 



sides of chest, middle portion being streaked with blue and brown ; 



white superciliary stripe very distinct. 

 Young: Nearly uniform rusty black; head tinged with blue; throat 



white, un streaked ; chest brownish gray ; belly white. 

 Geographical Distribution : Pacific coast of United States, from northern 



Oregon to Lower California ; east to Western Nevada. 

 California Breeding Range : Upper Sonoran zone, west of Sierra Nevada, 



south to Lower California. 

 Breeding Season: April to June 15. 

 Nest : Usually found in low bushes or thickets, though sometimes in a 



tree, from 3 to 30 feet from the ground ; a platform of interlaced 



twigs, moss, and dry grass supports the nest proper, which is made of 



rootlets mixed with horsehair. 

 Eggs: 3 to 6 ; buffy or green, varying in shade, blotched with brown. 



Size 1.08 X 0.80. 



To one accustomed to the handsome blue jay of the 

 East or the still more splendid Steller jay of the 

 West, the " flat-headed " California Jay presents a 

 far less attractive appearance. NTor does he improve 

 upon acquaintance ; for, as one becomes aware of all his 

 iniquities, his crestless head seems the typical low fore- 

 head of a villain. He is one of the greatest trials a 

 bird-lover must encounter, and I know no reason why 

 the law should protect him to the destruction of our 



