210 



GYMNOKITTA CYANOCEPUALA, BLUE CROW. 



Acad. 18G6, 91 ; Ibi.s, 1872, 152 (biognipliy) ; Key, 1872, IG;',.— Coop., B. Cal. i, 

 1870, 292.— AiKKX, Pr. Bost. Soc. xv, 1872, 204 (Wyoming).— B. B. &. 11., N. A. B. 

 ii, 1874, 260, pi. 38, f. 2. 



Psilorhhiiis riianovcplialus, Gray, Genera of Birds. 



Nudfv'.tqa {( i iimnokiUa) oianocephala, Gkay, Hand-list, ii. 1870, 10, No. GIGO. 



Cyaii<>cepltalii,s wicdi, Bi'.,"Oss. Stat. Zoo). Eiir. Veit. 1840-'41, 1842; see Ibi.s, 1873, 103. 



Cyanocorax cas^'uu, McCall, Pr. Phila. Acad, v, 1851, 21(;. 



Hub. — Western United States, from the eastern foot-hills and spurs of the Rocky 

 Mountains to the opposite slopes of the Cascade and Coast Ranges. 



Not obtained by Lientenant Warren's Expedition. 

 Later Expeditious. — 59860-3, Wyoming. 



The following account, like tliat of Clarke's Crow, is reproduced, in 

 substance, from my article in the " Ibis," as above quoted : 



For many years this species was considered a rarity, to be highly 

 prized, and may still remain among the desiderata of many or most 

 Euro})ean collectors; but of late a great many specimens have been 

 gathered, notably in California, by the late Captain John Feilner, and 

 in Arizona, by myself. Prince Maximilian's original examples are 

 stated to have come from one of the tributaries of the Upper jMissouri, 

 ■which locality, if not beyond the bird's ordinary range, is certaiidy far 

 from its centre of abundance. Dr. Hayden does not appear to have 

 met with it in that region, and probably Maximilian's quotation indi- 

 cates nearly the norti)eiistern limit of the species, whicii would thus 

 prove very nearly coincident with that of Clarke's Crow. Coloiu^l McCall 

 foun<l his Cyanocorax cassini abundant near Santa Fe, New jMexico; Dr. 

 Kennerly met with great numbers near San Miguel antl at Fort Web- 

 ster, in the same Territory; and Captain Feilner ])rocured his tine suite 

 of specimens at Foit Crook, Califonia. Dr. J. S. Newberry is our i)rinci- 

 })al Oregon reference. I have seen no Washington Territory record ; but 

 data are to be anticipated from this quarter, corresponding to those 

 respecting Clarke's Crow. In the matter of altitude, the present species 

 lias not been proven to occur so high up as Clarke's Crow has ; but the 

 evidence is only negative. It breeds at or near its limit of altitude, 

 descemling in winter to the lower border of the pine-belt, if not a little 

 bey on (L 



At Fort Whipple, in Arizona, where my observations were made, the 

 bird may be considered a permanent resident. Thougii v>e did not 

 observe it breeding in the immediate vicinity, vre found newly-tledged 

 young in the neighboring higliei- mountains, showing that it nests 

 there. Like most of its tribe — in fact, like most birds largely subsist- 

 ing on varied animal and vegetable substances — it is not strictly 

 migratory, ex(iei)t, perhaps, at its highest i)oint of dispersion. A 

 descent of a few thousand feet from mountain tops appears to answer 

 the purpose of the southward Journeying most migratory species per- 

 form, as far as food is concerned, wdiile its hardy nature eua5ies it to 

 endure the rigors of winter in regions IVeciuently snow-bound. Jt feeds 

 principally upon juniper-berries iiud pine-seeds; also upon acorns, and 

 probably other .small, hard fruit. 



Notwithstanding its essentially corvine form, the habits of this bird, 

 like its colors, are ratlier those of .I;iys. It is a garrulous and vociler- 

 ous crjeaturCj of various and curiously modulated chattering notes 



