90 BULLETIN 191, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



quietly, slipping through the trees and alighting near the blind. Then 

 one of them leaned over and peered through the small opening through 

 which the camera was focused. After looking very carefully, he saw us 

 and set up a great outcry. We were able to get only one picture of 

 the nest, which we took with a flash. After that the birds would not 

 come near while we were in the blind." 



Voice. — Grinnell and Storer (1924) describe the notes of this jay 

 as only slightly different from those of the other subspecies, but they 

 add to our knowledge of the bird's varied vocabulary, perhaps a limited 

 language. Grinnell gives "cheek, cheek, cheek, etc., staccato, 3 to 10 

 times in rapid succession ; chu-ick, chii-ick, chti-ick, etc., usually in 3's 

 slowly; schwee-ick, higher-pitched, 2 to 6 times, uttered still more 

 slowly." Storer adds: "A series of mildly harsh notes, kzmsh, kwish, 

 kwish, uttered usually 3 to 5 times in quick succession ; a more pro- 

 tracted softer note, kschu-ee, or jai-e, usually given singly. Birds of a 

 pair when foraging together, and young and adults when in family 

 parties, utter a subdued guttural krr'r'r'r'r. When attending young 

 still in the nest, the parent birds utter a low crooning, impossible of 

 representation in syllables ; and the young birds, after leaving the nest 

 and before gaining their living independently, have a 'teasing scold' 

 which they utter almost incessantly, in keeping their parents apprised 

 of their need for food." 



APHELOCORIA COEUULESCENS OOCLEPTICA Swarth 

 NICASIO JAY 



HABITS 



Harry S. Swarth (1918) gave the above name to the flat-headed jays 

 of "the coast region of northern California, west from Mount Diablo 

 and the coast ranges. North to Humboldt Bay, south to the Golden 

 Gate and the east side of San Francisco Bay." Of its distinguishing 

 characters, he says : "Of large size and dark coloration. In c.olor closely 

 similar to A. c. calijornica, but size measureably greater throughout. In 

 measurements oocleptica is equal to the maximum of immanis, from 

 which subspecies it is distinguished by its dark coloration. Differs from 

 hypolcuca both in greater size and much darker color." 



Nesting. — There is not much to be said about the nesting habits of 

 the Nic.asio jay, which are practically the same as those of the other 

 California subspecies. John W. Mailliard (1912) says that this jay is 

 an abundant resident in Marin County and that their "nesting notes 

 upon this species established the following sites for the eighty-three 

 nests observed : oaks 69 ; bay 3 ; wild coflfee 4 ; elder 2 ; madrona 1 ; 

 gooseberry 1 ; toxon 1 ; poison oak 2. And yet in Belvedere, Marin 

 County, where live-oaks are most plentiful, a nest has been built almost 



