1912 BIRDS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 67 



bated eggs on San Clemente Island, June 3, 1897 ( Pub. 1, Pasadena Acad. Sci., 

 1897, 16), and O. W. Howard took a set of three, incubation commenced, on San 

 Miguel Island, June 21, 1910. 



A male of this subspecies, now no. 17161 collection J. E. Thayer, was taken 

 by C. B. Linton at Alamitos Bay, Los Angeles County, January 18, 1908. It was 

 one of a small flock, seemingly of the same kind. In the original record of this 

 specimen (Condor x, 1908, 181), Mr. Linton made a mistake as to the date of 

 capture. 



223. (476) Pica nuttalli (Audubon). Yellow-billed Magpie. 



Formerly a common resident of the oak regions, south to northern Los Ange- 

 les County. Much less plentiful at the present time. Still, however, fairly com- 

 mon, locally, in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Breeds in late March and 

 early April. First described from specimens taken at Santa Barbara by Thos. 

 Nuttall (Audubon, Bds. Am., elephant folio, iv, 1838, 450). According to early 

 settlers in the Conejo Valley, on the line of Ventura and Los Angeles counties, 

 Magpies were common in that region in the early 80's. At the present time, they 

 are not to be found there. In the summer of 1908, J. S. Appleton saw a bird in 

 the Simi Valley, Ventura County, about seven miles north of the Los Angeles 

 County line. So far as I know, this is the most southern record for the species 

 during late years. A specimen is recorded as having been taken by Dr. Ham- 

 mond at San Diego (Baird, Pac. R. R. Rep. ix, 1858, 579). This specimen may 

 have been mis-labeled, or possibly was an escaped cage bird. 



In the early 60's, J. G. Cooper found the birds numerous near Santa Barbara 

 and noted young nearly fledged by April 25 (Land Bds. Cal., 1870, 295). B. W. 

 Evermann found them abundant in suitable places in Ventura County in the early 

 80's. On April 2, 1881, he obtained over eighty eggs in Wheeler Canon, near 

 Santa Paula (Auk in, 1886, 181). A small colony of birds still breeds in 

 Alisio Canon, not far from Wheeler Canon, and H. C. Burt has taken several sets 

 of eggs in this locality. He took six slightly incubated eggs April 24, 1904, and 

 six eggs, advanced in incubation, April 30, 1905. On April 16, 1910, but one set 

 of eggs was found, the rest of the nests containing newly hatched young. The 

 colony was again visited April 9, 1911, and several sets of fresh and slightly incu- 

 bated eggs were secured. 



224. (478a) Cyanocitta stelleri frontalis (Ridgway). Blue-fronted 

 Jay. 



Common resident of the Transition zone in coniferous forests of the moun- 

 tains. Occasional to the foothills and even to the oak regions of the mesas during 

 severe winters. Breeds mostly in early May. I found several nests of this bird 

 in the San Bernardino Mountains in June, 1906 and 1907. They all contained 

 young birds. N. S. Goss took several sets of eggs near Julian, San Diego Coun- 

 ty, in the spring of 1884 (Auk n, 1885, 217). 



225. (481) Aphelocoma californica californica (Vigors). California 

 Jay. 



Common resident from the coast to over 6000 feet in the mountains. Breeds 

 mostly in April. Although the A. O. U. Check-List assigns the bird occurring 



