222 PEEISOREUS CANADENSIS VAR, CAPITALIS. 



obtained al)ov(^ timber-line, that are truly arctic in their summer dis- 

 tiibution * * * WU.sonut pusiUa, Zoitotrichla leHcophrij^, nnd Melos- 

 piza U)icolni, were nowhere more abundant than among' the dwarfed wil- 

 lows and birches just above the general limit of the trees." All the 

 notes of this piiragraj)!! refer to var. capitalis. 



In Minnesota, ^Ir. Trii)pe ascertained that this bird breeds iu the 

 <lense tamarack swamps. It is also known to breed in Maine. With 

 these exceptions, the United States record east of the Rocky Mountains, 

 and south of Northern New England, is entirely of straggling birds, 

 rare and only iu winter, saving only Mr. Lawrence's note of an acciden- 

 tal sunmier occurrence. But Mr. Merriam informs me that it breeds in 

 the Adirondacks. In Colorado, says Mr. Trippe, the Canada Jay [var. 

 c(ijnt((liii\ is abundant and resident, breeding. " I have never," he con- 

 tinues, '" seen the Canada Jay below 9,000 feet, even iu mid- winter ; and 

 but rarely below 9,500 or 10,000. During the warmer months it keeps 

 within a few hundred teet of timber-line, frequenting the darkest forests 

 of sj)ruce, and occasionally flying a little way above the trees. It is 

 quite tame, coming about mining camps to pick up whatever is htrowu 

 out in the way of food, and evincing much of the curiosity that is char- 

 acteristic of the family. In winter, its supply of food is very precarious, 

 and it is olten reduced to mere skin and bones ; at such times it will 

 frequently weigh no more than a plump Snow-bird or Sparrow, and 

 undoubtedly starves to death sometimes. During the latter part of 

 autumn, its hoarse croaking is almost the only sound to be heard in the 

 cold sombre forests that lie near timber-line." 



The egg of Perisoreus is altogether different from that of Cyanurns 

 and Cyanoeitta, much nearer Fica, but still peculiar. The ground is 

 grayish-white, marked all over, but nearly always most heavily at the 

 but, or in a wreath around it, with several shades of a dark neutral 

 tint, mixed usually Avith some olive-brown spots. The markings in sev- 

 eral specimens before me are all quite tine, even those that are conflu- 

 ent at the larger end. Size, 1.20 by 0.70. The nest is built on the 

 limbs of trees, of hay, feathers, &c. 



