282 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



fir-tree on the edge of a wood. It was saddled on a horizontal branch 

 about fifteen feet from the ground, and contained six eggs. The base of the 

 nest was composed of coarse strong sticlcs, rudely put together. Upon this 

 was constructed a solid, firm plastering of mud of a uniform concave shape, 

 lined with fine wiry roots. The extei-nal diameter is about nine inches, and 

 the height of the nest four. The interior is five inches in diameter, and three 

 in depth. 



The species was first described by Professor Baird, from specimens 

 obtained by Dr. Kennerly, who writes that he first saw this bird among 

 the lofty pines of the Sierra Madre in November, 1853. Leaving that 

 range, he did not meet with it again until his party crossed the Aztec 

 Mountains, in January, 1854, where it was less abundant than when first 

 met with. It was, for the most part, found among the cedars on the high 

 grounds, though occasionally seen among the clumps of large pines that 

 were scattered along the valley. . The party did not meet with it again. 



Dr. Coues found this species a common and a resident bird in Arizona. 

 It was observed to be almost exclusively an inhabitant of pine woods, and was 

 generally to be met with only in small companies, never congregating in the 

 manner of Woodhouse's Jay. He describes it as very sliy, vigilant, noisy, 

 and tyrannical. 



Tlie eggs of C. macroloflia measure 1.30 inches in length and .91 in breadth. 

 Their ground-color is a light sea-green. They are somewhat sparingly 

 spotted with fine markings of dark olive-brown, and lighter cloudings of a 

 purplish or violet brown. They are oblong oval in shape, obtuse at either 

 end, but more tapering at one end. They appear to be a little larger than 

 the eggs of stcllcri, and the ground-color is brighter, and the markings deeper 

 and more of an olive hue. 



Genus CYANOCITTA, Strickland. 



Cyanocitta, Strickland, Annals and Mag. N. H. XV, 1845, 260. (Tjrpe, Garrulus cali- 



fornicus, Vigors.) 

 Aphclocoma, Cabanis, Miis. Hein. 1851, 221. (Same tjrpe.) 



Char. Head without crest. Wings and tail blue, without any bands. Back usually 

 with a gray patch, different from the head. Bill about as broad as high at the base, and 

 the culmen a little shorter than the head. Nostrils large, nearly circular, and concealed. 

 Tail nearly equal to the wings, lengthened, graduated, or else shorter and nearly even. 



This genus is readily distinguished from the preceding by the entire 

 absence of crest and of black bars on the blue of wings and tail. The 

 species and races hitherto described will be found detailed in the accompa- 

 nying synopsis. The characters indicated above are of no very great generic 

 value, but as the group is a very natural one it will be as well to retain it. 

 As in Cijanura, the species are peculiar to the United States and Mexico, 

 one indeed being apparently confined to the Peninsula of Florida. 



