CORVID^ — THE CROWS. 261 



According to the more recent observations of Mr. Eidgway, the Maximil- 

 ian Jay inhabits exclusively the nut-pine and cedar woods on the interior 

 mountain ranges, and is one of the most characteristic birds of those regions. 

 This species he states to be eminently gregarious, even breeding in colonies, 

 and in winter congregating in flocks, sometimes of thousands. Ever restless 

 and in motion, as it moves it is constantly uttering its curious, querulous 

 notes. It is a very conspicuous bird, and is one well worthy of particular 

 attention. Its blue color is the only thing suggestive of its affinity to the 

 Jay. All its habits are different, and its appearance is quite peculiar. It 

 is as essentially migratory as the Uctopistes migrcUoria, its coming and its 

 going being quite as sudden and uncertain. On one occasion, in visiting a 

 nut-pine wood, Mr. Eidgway found it full of roving, noisy troops of these 

 birds, but upon visiting the same locality the next day not one could be 

 seen. 



He also states that these birds are exceedingly early in their nesting, as 

 he met with companies of fully fledged young flying about on the 21st 

 of April. Near Carson City, April 20, 1868, he found these birds abundant 

 among the scattered cedars and nut-pines on the lower slopes of the hills. 

 They were in pairs, often three or four pairs in company. 



The notes of this bird are both peculiar and curious. The usual ones are 

 said to have some resemblance to the querulous wailings of the Screech 

 Owl ; but none, in his opinion, have any resemblance to the cry of the Cat- 

 bird. 



It flies very swiftly, but with a gentle floating motion, very much in the 

 manner of the Eobin. In its movements among the small cedars, it gener- 

 ally alighted upon the summit of a tree, and, quietly sitting there, would 

 look about in the manner of the Picicorvus columhianus. In flying, it con- 

 tinually uttered a very peculiar querulous note, resembling very much one 

 •of the notes of the Magpie, ■ — • the peculiarly soft note of that bird uttered 

 during the love-season, or when its nest is approached. In searching among 

 the cedars, Mr. Eidgway found several of its nests. Nearly all had been 

 deserted, and there were several families of fully fledged young flying about. 

 One nest contained four fully feathered young. When these had been taken, 

 and placed in a hat, they all jumped out, squalling vociferously. These 

 nests were all saddled upon horizontal branches of cedars, and, except in 

 their greater bulk, they closely resembled the nest of the eastern Blue Jay. 



In autumn and in winter the large flocks of these birds, as they fly back 

 and forth over the hills, present a very peculiar appearance. Their flight is 

 then very swift. 



Dr. Kennerly, in November, 1853, frequently saw large flocks of these 

 birds between the Puebla of Laguna and the Sierra Madre, about a hundred 

 miles west of Albuquerque, in New IVIexico. They were found chiefly fre- 

 quenting the watercourses, and wlien startled would circle around, rising 

 higher above their heads, uttering their singular cries ; then suddenly de- 



