FLORIDA JAY 87 



serina), meadowlarks (Sturnella magna argiitula), red-winged blackbirds 

 (Agelaius phoeniceus mearnsi), and grackles and have never seen it 

 bully or disturb these birds, a fact worth noting in view of the family 

 reputation. In the section where I have known it for nine years [Engle- 

 wood, Fla.] it is a general favorite, giving ground only to the quail that 

 feed about the homes." It is supposed that in his expression "giving 

 ground" Mr. Smith refers to the popularity of the quail over the jay, not 

 that the jay retreats before the other. 



Voice. — Notoriously noisy as are most of the jays, this species is not 

 unusually so. Compared at least to Cyanocifta and its forms, it is de- 

 cidedly less vocal. The notes are essentially jaylike, which is not too 

 general a term to employ for quick recognition, but are given at greater 

 intervals and not so constantly. Certain calls are loud and have a harsh, 

 rasping quality, and it is probably some of these that Howell (1932) 

 likens to notes of the boat-tailed grackle (Megaquiscalus mexicanus 

 major) and that he terms "churr." I cannot say that they ever im- 

 pressed me in such a way, but bird calls sound different to different 

 hearers. 



The song, if one can designate the attempt as such, is widely at 

 variance with the call or alarm notes. It is a rather surprising per- 

 formance really, and would puzzle many not seeing the singer. Wetmore 

 (MS.) describes it as "a mixture of low, sweet-toned calls, high in pitch, 

 mingled with others that were variously slurred or trilled in utterance." 

 It is next to impossible to describe most bird notes in words. How- 

 ever, the above seems to me to be as good an interpretation as can be 

 given. Not in character or similiarity, but in that one would not 

 expect such a song from such a bird, it recalls some of the performances 

 of the loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) ! On some occasions, 

 I have heard low, subdued notes that cannot be described otherwise than 

 as a chuckle, delivered rather rapidly and having an abrupt quality. 

 It is an agreeable delivery and imparts the distinct impression that tlie 

 bird is in a thoroughly contented mood at the time. 



Field marks. — The outstanding field marks of this species, aside from 

 tlie characteristic color pattern, are the crestless head and the long 

 tail. The name "Aphelocoma" is from the Latin meaning "smooth hair," 

 referring, of course, to the lack of a crest in a crested family; "coerules- 

 cens" refers to the prevailing color, blue. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — The peninsula of Florida ; nonmigratory. 



The range of the Florida jay extends north in that State to Port 



