258 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



The food of this bird, at the time when Dr. Newberf-y visited its haunts, 

 consisted exclusively of the seeds of the yellow pine {P. ijonderosa), in dis- 

 lodging which from the cones the bird displays great dexterity. Both 

 Maximilian's Jay and Steller's Jay were, at that time, feeding on the same 

 seeds, but not so exclusively. 



Dr. Suckley obtained a specimen of this bird as far east as Milk Eiver, in 

 Nebraska, about two hundred miles east of the Rocky Mountains. 



In crossing the Cascade Mountains, in 1853, Dr. Cooper found these birds 

 quite abundant on the banks of the Yakima River, and from thence- north 

 wherever there were trees of the long-leaved pine, the seeds of which were 

 its principal food. On returning to Vancouver during the' severe cold weather 

 of the following January, these birds appeared there in considerable num- 

 bers. At no other season of the year has he met with them west of the 

 Cascade Mountains, and believes these migrations westward are only made 

 in the severest weather. They extend eastward throughout Washington Ter- 

 ritory, as Dr. Cooper has shot them at Fort Laramie, and met with a strag- 

 gling pair even as far east as Fort Kearney. Dr. Cooper has never known 

 these birds to eat anything except seeds and berries. They rarely descend to 

 the ground, and never frequent river-banks, or other places, for fish or car- 

 rion. They may be seen on the tops of trees extracting seeds from cones, 

 hanging head downwards, like a Chickadee. Dr. Cooper has observed this 

 bird pecking at dead bark, in quest of insects. When feeding they are very 

 shy, flying off, if approached, to a great distance before alighting. They are 

 not known to visit the Coast Mountains south of San Francisco, but abound 

 in the Rocky Mountains throughout our limits. 



Mr. J. K. Lord notes the arrival of this species at Fort Colville, in May, 

 in large flocks. They were hopping busily from branch to branch, amidst 

 pine-trees. 



The statement made to Wilson that this species frequents rivers and sea- 

 shores, and his inference that its formidable claws indicated that they feed 

 on living animals, is controverted by Mr. Lord. They never frequent river- 

 banks, never by any chance eat fish, and never capture any living thing. 

 Their habits are strictly arboreal, and their food the seeds of pine-trees. 

 These noisy seed-hunters use their formidable claws to enable them to hang 

 on to the pine cones while they are extracting the seed, which they are 

 obliged to get out from under scaly coverings. For this nature has given 

 them feet and claws that serve the purpose of hands, and a powerful bill, like 

 a small crowbar. The cone must be steadied wdien they pry it open, or it 

 would snap and fall. One foot clasps it, and the powerful claws hold it 

 firmly. The other foot, encircling a branch, supports the bird in every pos- 

 sible position, the long grasping claws being equal to any emergency. The 

 cone is thus fixed, and the seeds are forced out from under the scales. Mr. 

 Lord collected a large packet of seeds of the Ahies douglassi from the crops 

 of these birds. 



