CROWS, JAYS, MAGPIES, ETC. 269 



Distribution. — Coast region from British Columbia south to California. 



Nest. — In a hollow, on dry ground, usually frail, made of fine dead weeds. 

 Eggs : usually '2 or o, dull greenish or grayish, marked over entire surface 

 with gray or reddish, heaviest around larger end. 



474h. O. a. adusta Dwight. Scohched Horned Lakk.^ 



Pale like chri/soht/ma, but upper parts uniform scorched pink or pinkish 



brown. Male : Aving 4, tail 2.83, bill from nostril .80. Female : wing o.73, 



tail 2.48, bill from nostril .34. 



Distribution. — Fi-om central southern Arizona, south to Mexico. 



474i. O. a. merrilli Dwight. Dusky Horned Lark. 



Similar to strigata, but larger, grayer above, streaking of back blacker 

 and back of neck paler, pinkish instead of ruddy brown ; less yellowish 

 below; eyebrow usually yellowish. Male: wing 4.07, thil 2.80, bill from 

 nostril .3.5. Female : wing 3.72, tail 2.50, bill from nostril .34. 



Distribution. — From British Columbia south between the Cascades and 

 Rocky Mountains ; in winter to Nevada and California. 



FAMILY CORVIDiE: CRO"WS, JAYS, MAGPIES, ETC. 



KEY TO GENERA. 



1. Wing long and pointed. 



2. Plumage black Corvus, p. 279. 



2'. Plumage mainly gray or blue. 



3. Plumage blue Cyanocephalus. p. 284. 



3'. Plumage gray, black, and white Nucifraga, p. 282. 



r. Wing short and rounded. 



2. Plumage black and white Pica, p. 2()9. 



2'. Plumage not black. 



3. Head crested Cyaiiocitta, p. 271. 



3'. Head not crested. 



4. Plumage mainly gray or blue. 



5. Plumage gray Pei'isoieus. p. 277. 



5. Plumage blue Apheloconia, p. 274. 



4'. Plunuige mainly green and black . . . Xantlioura, p. 277. 



GENUS PICA. 



General Characters. — Tail much longer than wing, graduated for half 

 its length or more, the feathers becoming narrower toward tips ; nostrils 

 covered by bristles ; orbits partly naked ; feet stout. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



1. Bill and naked skin around eye black .... hudsoilica, p. 270. 

 r. Bill and naked skin around eyes yellow nuttalli, p. 271. 



1 Otocoris iilppslris occitleiitali.i (McCall). 



Like ailiistii, but much larger, and decidedly les-s ruddy above, n.ipe more pinkish, 

 back more iliisky. 



I)i.slrib)iliiiii. — In Hummer, central New Mexico, west to central Arizona; in winter 

 Routh to Son(jra and Ciiiliuahua, Mexico, and southeast to Texas. 



Otitroris (iliirstrix ii/ifnn.'i/d Oht'rhoiscr. 



Like iiiliixhi. but back less rcddisli. l)ack of nock and bend of wing more pinkish. 



I)i.slribuliou. — Extreme soutiieastcrn Arizona, soutliwestern New Mexico, and Chi- 

 huahua, Coahuila, and Durango, Mexico. 



