104 BULLETIN 191, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Arising as the region does from the dry, barren hills of the lower country to 

 an elevation higher than any other on the peninsula or in Southern California, 

 and presenting in its alpine vegetation and clear mountain streams features so 

 different from tlie dry manzanita and sage-covered hills of the surrounding country, 

 it is not unnatural to suppose that its animal life v>'0uld be found to differ in some 

 respects from that of the surrounding hills. 



Mr. Anthony found this jay ranging up to 10,000 feet in these 

 mountains. He says nothing about the habits of the bird, and nothing 

 seems to be pubHshed on the subject elsewhere. 



The measurements of 12 eggs average 27.8 by 20.8 millimeters; the 

 eggs showing the four extremes measure 29.2 by 21.1, 26.4 by 20.6. 

 and 26.8 by 20.2 millimeters. 



APHELOCOMA COERULESCENS CACTOPHILA Huey 

 DESERT CALIFORNIA JAY 



Laurence M. Huey (1942) gave the abo^■e names to the jays of this 

 species found in the central portion of the peninsula of Baja California. 

 In his description of it, he says that it "is closest to ^. c. hypoleiica of 

 the Cape District of Lower California. From that form it differs in 

 the general tone of the back, which is darker, more slaty ; also the under- 

 parts are not as white as are those of hypoleiica, having a faint wash 

 of gray color which is more highly exemplified in ApJielocoma califoniica 

 [=coeridescens] obscura from the northernmost part of tlie peninsula 

 and in the races farther north in upper California. The bib, or throat, 

 and sides of neck are of a darker shade on both their blue and dusky 

 aspects than are those of hypoleiica, and lighter than those of obscura." 



Of its range, he says : "From near latitude 29° 20', south over the 

 width of the peninsula to the vicinity of Muleje, on the gulf coast near 

 latitude 27". On the Pacific, slope the range extends farther south, 

 latitude 25° 40' being reached before intergradation takes places." 



This subspecies seems to be strictly intermediate in characters between 

 the race to the northward of it and that to the southward of it, which 

 might be expected in the intermediate territory that it occupies. 



APHELOCOINIA COERULESCENS HYPOLEUCA Ridgway 

 XANTUS'S JAY 



HABITS 



In the Lower Au.stral and Arid Tropical Zones of the southern half 

 of Lower California, south of latitude 28° or 29° N., we find this smaller 

 and paler form of the California jay. Not only is it decidedly smaller 

 than the more northern forms of the species, but also the blue portions 

 of its plumage are a lighter and more cjearly azure blue, the under parts 

 are more purely white, and the bill and feet are relatively larger. 



