392 ANIMAL LIFE IX THE YO SEMITE 



to render the place indistin^iishable from the surrounding surface of 

 the ground. There is no doubt that the jays themselves fail to recover 

 many of these caches, and thus unconsciously, as planters of seeds, serve 

 the interests of the trees. 



WooDHousE Jay. Aphelocoma woohousei (Baird) 



Field characters. — Similar to those of California Jay (which see). Broad area of 

 chin and throat less clearly white and less sharply set off against blue of side of neck 

 and breast. Voice : As for California Jay. 



Occurrence. — Found in small numbers during the fall months in the piiions on 

 Williams Butte, near Mono Lake. 



The Woodhouse Jay is a near relative of the California Jay. In 

 appearance it closely resembles the latter bird, differing chiefly in having 

 a slenderer bill, a paler tone of coloration above, and in being less clearly 

 white below. The light area involving the chin and throat is less sharply 

 set off against the adjoining blue. 



Two scattered bands of eight and twelve birds, respectively, were seen 

 in the fine stand of pifion pines on the west side of Williams Butte near 

 the summit on September 21 and 22, 1915. These were possibly fall 

 wanderers from farther to the eastward, for none was anywhere seen in 

 the vicinity of Williams Butte during the field work there, from late April 

 until early July, in 1916. 



Western Raven. Corvus corax sinuatns Wagler 



Field cJiaracters. — Large size (close to that of Eed-tailed Hawk) ; wholly black, 

 glistening plumage. Flight direct, with deliberate wing beats. Voice: Usually a harsh 

 croak. 



Occurrence. — Eare straggler; a single individual seen at Pleasant Valley, January 2, 

 1915. 



Conditions in the Yosemite region do not seem to be attractive to the 

 Western Raven, as we saw only a single individual, as noted above, and 

 that bird was doubtless a wanderer from farther south in the San Joaquin 

 Valley. Elsewhere in the Sierra Nevada the species is common locally, 

 as for instance in the vicinity of Whitney Meadows. The general lack 

 of cattle, with which the raven is so often associated, may be a partial 

 explanation of the absence of the species from the Yosemite region. 



Western Crow. Corvus brachyrhynchos hesperis Ridgway 



Field characters. — Much smaller than Eed-tailed Hawk; plumage solidly black. 

 Flight in direct course, with steadily flapping wings. Voice : a loud caw, uttered 

 singly or repeated, and with different inflections according to circumstances. 



Occurrence. — Eesident in the San Joaquin Valley; casual in the nearby foothills. 

 Occasionally seen in Yosemite Valley. Lives in open country, roosting and nesting 

 usually in oak trees. 



