CORVID^ — THE CROWS. 279 



sapling of the Douglas fir, on the borders of a dense forest, and, some time 

 after, a second nest with young, in an elevated branch of another fir, on the 

 border of a rocky cliff. The first nest contained four eggs, of a pale green, 

 marked with small olive-brown spots, varied witli others inclining to a violet 

 hue. The parents flew at him with the utmost anger and agitation, almost 

 deafening him with their cries ; and although he took only two of their eggs, 

 the next day he found they had forsaken their nest. This nest was bulky, 

 made of interlaced twigs and roots, with a stout layer of mud, and lined 

 with black rootlets. One of the eggs taken by Mr. Nuttall is in my cabinet, 

 and is as he describes it, except that the obscure markings of violet have 

 nearly faded out. It measures 1.20 inches in length, and .90 in breadth, is 

 oval in shape, and a little more obtuse at one end than at the other. 



This Jay was obtained by Steller at Nootka, on the west coast of Van- 

 couver Island, in latitude 50°. It was also found in abundance by Mr. Dall 

 at Sitka, in British Columbia, where a number of specimens were obtained 

 by Mr. Bischoff and by Mr. Elliot. 



Mr. J. K. Lord states that this Jay ever makes its presence known by the 

 constant utterance of discordant screams. It is continually hopping from 

 bougli to bough, darting down to catch an insect, performing short, erratic 

 flights, and jerking up and down its crest of bright feathers. Its noisy song 

 seems to be everywhere. It is the embodiment of restlessness, and, by dint 

 of sheer impudence, attracts attention even from the hunter. He adds that 

 it seemed fond of frequenting the liaunts of man, and is always plentiful 

 near Indian lodges or white men's shanties. It is by no means epicurean 

 in taste, but readily devours anything, whether seeds or salmon, grasshop- 

 pers or venison. Its nest he found artfully concealed amidst the thick foli- 

 age of a young pine-tree. It was composed of moss, small twigs, lichens, 

 and fir fronds, and lined with deer's hair. The average number of eggs laid 

 appears to be seven. 



Cyanura stelleri, var. frontalis, Eidgway. 



SIEEKA JAY. 



Cyanura stelleri, AucT. All reference to Steller's Jay as occurring in California, excepting 

 on tlie northern Coast Range, relate to this variety. 



Sp. Char. Head, neck, and dorsal region plumbeous-umber, darker on the head, and 

 posteriorly changing gradually into the light greenish-blue of the rest of the body ; wings 

 and tail deep indigo-blue, the tertials, secondaries, and tail conspicuously marked with 

 broad and rather distant bars of black ; primaries greenish light-blue, like the rump, 

 abdomen, etc. Whole forehead conspicuously streaked with bhie (the streaks forming 

 two parallel series, where the feathers are not disarranged), and the crest strongly tinged 

 with blue. ^.(53,639, Carson City, Nevada, April 30, 1868): wing, 6.00; tail, 6.00; 

 culmen, 1.25 ; depth of bill, .35 ; tarsus, 1.55 ; middle toe, .90 ; crest, 2.80. 9 (53,640, 

 Carson City, Nevada, April 30, 1868) : wing, 5.70 ; tail, 5.50. Young with the blue of 



