PICA NUTTALLI. 519 



more bulky, resembled in thoir construction those of the eastern Bine Jay 

 {Ci/anura cristafn). The single nest which was not deserted contained four 

 fledgelings, Avhich, when taken out for examination and placed in our hat, 

 scrambled out, at the same time squalling vociferously. In color they 



resembled the old birds, but were of a duller and more uniform blue. 



*■ 



List of upecimenn. 



502, (J ad.; Carson City, Nevada, April 20, 18G8. Cedars, lli^— ]8g— OJ— 5. 

 Bill, tarsi, and toes, deep black ; iris, deep sepia ; interspaces of scutellse and under 

 surface of toes, ashy-whitish. 



503, 9 aih; Carson City, Nevada, April 20, 1868. Cedars. lOg— 18— 5ff— 4|. 

 Same remarks. 



507, $ ml.; Carson City, Nevada, April 21, 18G8. Cedars. 113—19— Of— 5i|. 

 Same remarks. 



Pica nuttalli. 



I'ellow-blllcd i^Iag:pie. 



Pica mittaUi, Audubon, Orn. Biog., IV, 183S, 450, pi. 362.— Baird. Birds N. Am., 

 1858, 578; Cat. N. Am. Birds, 1859, No. 133.— CooPEK, Orn. Cal., I, 295. 



Pica melanoleuca var. nuttalli, COUES, Key, 1872, 164; Check List, 1873, No. 233a; 

 Birds N.W., 1874, 212. 



Pica caudata var. nuttalli, B. B. cS: K., Hi.st. N. Am. Birds, II, 1874, 270, pi. xxxviii, 

 fig. 2. 



The Yellow-billed Magpie was observed only in the Sacramento 

 Valley, where it was very abundant among the scattered oaks. It was 

 found in the outskirts of Sacramento City as soon as the fix'st large oaks 

 were met with, moving about in small scattered flocks, and incessantly 

 chattering, whether while on the wing or when perched among the branches; 

 it appeared to be both more noisy and more gregarious than the Black- 

 billed Magpie, which, however, it gi-eatly resembled in other respects. 

 Many nests were fonnd, but they were all in the tops of the tallest oaks, 

 and could not be reached; this was one of the most conspicuous differences 

 in its habits from P. hiidsonica, which was found to invariably build its nest 

 in bushes, or, at most, only in the smallest trees, as alders and cedars, 

 even where large trees were abundant; the dense thickets of willow and 

 butValo-berry bushes being preferred to any others. 



