THE CALIFORNIA JAY. 31 



as well as a wag, and intinitcly inure interesting than a stupid parmt. Mis- 

 chief is his special forte: the untying of shoe-strings, the investigation of 

 cavities, the secreting of spoons, and the aimless abstraction of gold teeth 

 are his unending delight. Once when the writer was shelling seed peas in 

 the garden, a spoiled "Jackity" assayed to fill his (the man's) ears with these 

 innocent pellets ; and when he disco\-ered a rent in the knee of the man's 

 trousers, he fairly chortled, "Well; I see mvself bnsv for a week filling that 

 hole!" 



Cage life is irksome for bird or beast; but, if we nuist be amused, and, 

 above all, if we feel called uptm to pass adverse judgment upmi this gifted 

 bundle "i cnntradictions, as he exists in a state of nature, let nur harshest 

 sentence be sociable confinement with occasional freednm mi pardle. A bii'd 

 in the cage is worth two in tiie obituarv columns. 



No. 8. 



CALIFORNIA JAY. 



.•\. O. U. Xo. 481. Aphelocoma californica (Vigors). 



Description. — Adults: In general blue, changing to brownish gray on back 

 (scapulars and interscapulars), whitening variously on underparts ; crown, hind 

 neck and sides of neck dull cobalt blue, nearly uniform; wings, tail, and upper 

 tail-coverts dull azure blue ; cheeks and auriculars cobalt blue and dusky ; chin, 

 throat, and chest, centrally, white, the last-named with admixture of blue in 

 streaks, and passing into the clear blue of its sides ; breast sordid gray, passing 

 into dull white of remaining underi)arts ; shorter under tail-coverts pure white, 

 the longer ones tinged with pale blue; bill and feet black; iris brown. In voting 

 birds the blue of adults is sui)planted by mouse-gray on head and lower neck, 

 rump, etc., save that crown is tinged with blue; the gray of back is of a deeper 

 shade; the underparts arc white, save for light brownish wash across breast and 

 sides. Length of adult males 1 1.50-12.25; wing 5.00 (127); tail 5.60 (143); 

 bill 1. 00 (25.4) ; tarsus 1.60 (41). Females slightly smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size; blue coloration without crest; whitish 

 underparts. 



Nesting. — Xcst: a bed of small twigs without mud andjieavily lined with 

 fine dead grass ; 8 inches across outside by 3j,< in depth — thus much smaller and 

 lighter than that of the Steller Jay — placed at moderate elevation in tree or bush 

 in thicket near water. Eggs: 3-6, usually 4 or 5. deep green of varying shades, 

 spotted with reddish browns. Av. size, i.ii .x .82 (28.2 x 20.8). Season: first 

 week in May; one brood. 



General Range. — Pacific Coast district of United States, including eastern 

 slopes of the Sierra Nevada and the Ca,scade Range in Oregon, north to south- 

 western Washington. 



