Piiion Jay 299 



The eggs, four or five in number, are laid at the end of 

 April or beginning of May ; they are blueish-white in 

 colour, moderately speckled with small spots and 

 blotches of brown ; they measure ri9 x 'ST. 



Christy gives a few further particulars ; he found 

 nests with fresh eggs between April 5th and May 20th, 

 near Rouse Junction, in Huerfano co, ; the birds there 

 nest in colonies of from 12 to 150 pairs, at elevations of 

 7,500 to 8,000 feet. 



Family ICTERIDiE. 



Bill of very varying shape — crow-like to finch-like — 

 without rectal bristles ; wing with nine primaries and 

 nine secondaries ; tail with twelve rectrices ; tarsus 

 scutellate. 



This family is confined to the New World, and out of 

 some thirty genera, representatives of eight occur in 



Colorado. 



Key of the Geneka. 



A. Tail-feathers sharp pointed, only two primaries, seventh and 



eighth sinuated on their outer webs. Dolichonyx, p. 300. 



B. Tail-feathers not distinctly sharp pointed ; at least three 



primaries sinuated on their outer webs. 



a. Tail very short, about |- of wing. 



a^ Bill elongated and slender, as long as the head ; hind to© 

 stout, longer than the lateral ones. Stumella, p. 309. 



b^ Bill stout and conical, about i the length of the head ; 

 hind toe normal. Molothrus, p. 302. 



b. Tail always more than | of wing. 



a^ Tail strongly graduated and plicate ; capable of being 

 folded vertically. Quiscalus, p. 319. 



b^ Tail square or but slightly rounded. 



a" Bill slender, culmen straight or slightly decurved ; feet 

 weak, tarsus about equal to the middle toe and claw. 



Icterus, p. 311. 

 b^ Bill distinctly decurved, narrow and shorter than the 

 head ; tarsus longer than the middle toe and claw. 



Euphagus, p. 315. 



