GYMNOKITTA CYANOCEPHALA. 517 



often seen to go into hollows about the trees, as if going to and from their 



nests.' 



lAst of specimens. 



308, 9 ad.; Pea-Vine Mountaiu, near Sierra Nevada, November 20, 18G7. Pine 

 woods. 12A—21g—7f— 64— Ifi— 11—43—25. Bill, tarsi, and toes, deep black ; iris, 

 bright hazel. 



309, 9 ad.; PeaVine Mountain, near Sierra Nevada, November 20, 1867. Pine 

 woods. 12g— 21f— 7f— GJ— 1|— l-f3g_4J— 3. Same remarks. 



310, 9 «</.; Pea-Vine IMountniu, near Sierra Nevada, November 20,1867. Pine 

 woods. 12|— 21f— 7|— 64— If— 1|— 4|— 2^. Same remarks. 



320, ^ad.; pine woods, shore of Lake Tahoe. (Mr. H. G. Parker.) 13— (?)— 8— 6?- 



443, S ad.; Carson, March 21, 1868. Pines. 12i— 22f— 8— 6^. Bill, tarsi, and 

 toes, black ; iris, blackish-sepia. 



444, ? ad.; Carson, March 21, 1868. Pines. 12|— 22^— 7f— 6§. Same remarks. 

 854, 9 ad.; Camp 19, East Humboldt Mountains, August 4, 1868. 12f— 22— (T;— 



6. Same remarks. 



868, i ad.; Camp 19, August 12, 1868. 12J— 22— (!)— 6y%. Same remarks. 



1447, <? ad.; Parley's Park, Wahsatch Mountains, Utah, July 23, 1869. I23— 234- 

 Bill, tarsi, and toes, black ; iris, umber. 



GyMNOKITTA CYANOCEPHALA. 

 Blue Nutcracker; maximiliaii's "Jay." 



Qijmnorhinus cyanocephahts, Maximilian, Reise Nord-Am., 1841, 21. 



OymnoJcitta cyanocepliala, BoNAP., Consp. Av., 1, 1850, 382. — Baird, Birds N. Am., 

 1858, 574; Cat. N. Am. Birds, 1859, No. 431.— Cooper, Orn. Cal., I, 202.— 

 CouES, Key, 1872, 163; Check List, 1873, No. 231; Birds N.W., 1874,209.— 

 B. B. & H., Hist. N. Am. Birds, II, 1874, 260, pi. xxxvill, tig. 2.— Henshaw, 

 1875, 331. 



This extraordinary bird was found to inhabit exclusively the nut-pine 

 and cedar woods on the mountain ranges of the Interior, of which it was 

 the most chai'acteristic species. It was eminently gregarious, even breeding 

 in colonies, and in winter congregating in immense flocks, which sometimes 

 consisted of thousands of individuals, all uttering their querulous notes as 

 they swept to and fro over the hills, in their restless migrations. Its l)lue 

 color is about the only feature in this bird which would lead one at first 

 sight to suspect its relationship with the Jays, all its habits being so utterly 



•According to Captain Charles Bendire, U. S. A., this is by no means the usual 

 position of the nest. [See Bulletin of the Kuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. I, No. 2, 

 July, 1876, pp. 44, 45.J 



