PICA NUTTALLI. 519 



more bulky, resembled in their construction those of the eastern Blue Jay 

 {Cyanura cristata). The single nest which was not deserted contained four 

 fledgelings, which, 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 specimen!!. 



502, i ad.; Carson City, Nevada, April 20, 1868. Cedars. 11^— 18g— CJ— 5. 

 Bill, tarsi, and toes, deep black; iris, deep sepia; inter8i)aces of scutellse and under 

 surface of toes, asby-whitish. 



503, ? ad.; Carsou City, Nevada, April 20, 1868. Cedars. lOi— 18— 5i|— 4f. 

 Same remarks. 



507, $ ad.; Carson City, Nevada, April 21, 1868. Cedars, llf— 19— 6|— Sff. 

 Same remarks. 



Pica nuttalli. 



Yellow-blllcd Iflagpie. 



Pica nuttalli, Audubon, Orn. Biog., IV, 1838, 450, pi. 362.— Baied, Birds N. Am., 

 1858, 578; Cat. N. Am. Birds, 185".), No. •433.— Cooper, Orn. Cal., I, 295. 



Fica melanoleuca var. nuttalli, Coues, Key, 1872, 164; Cbeck List, 1873, No. 233a; 

 Birds N.W., 1874, 212. 



Pica candata var. nuttalli, B. B. & R., Hist. N. Am. Birds, II, 1874, 270, pi. xxxviii, 

 fig. 2. 



The Yellow-billed Magpie was observed only in the Sacramento 

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

 found in the outskirts of Sacramento City as soon as the first large oaks 

 wei'e met with, moAang 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 greatly resembled in other respects. 

 Many nests were found, 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. hudsonica, 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 

 buffalo-berry bushes being preferred to any others. 



