38 THE WHITE-HEADED }m\ 



willi'ws aloiii; creek hottoins s<>nie twenty miles fmin pine tinil)cr. On tlie 

 other hand, they do not assert, witli tlic Gray Jays and Clark Crows, tlie riglit 

 to ranpe the mountain heights: Init are quite content to maintain tlieir 

 unholy inquisition amidst the gjoves and thickets of the valley fliK)rs. 



Thev are, |)erhai>s. not so noisy as the Steller Jays, heing less confident 

 of their cover; and their notes are rather more musicil (breath of pines is 

 l>ettcr than fog for the voice) : but for the rest they are the same vivacious. 

 intrci)iil. rcNuurcefii! mischief-makers as their kin-folk everywhere. 



No. 12. 



WFIITE-HEADED JAY. 



A. I >. V. No. 484a. Perisoreus canadensis capitalis Ridgw. 



Synonyms. — Rocky Moi ntain Jay. 'Can.ada" Jay. Wiiiskky Jack. 

 WissKAi iio.\. Camp Robber. Moosk-bikd. Mi:at Hawk. Meat-bikh. 



Description. — AduUs: General color plumbeous ash lightening below ; whole 

 head white save space about and behind eye connected with broad inichal patch 

 of slat\ j^ray : \vinj,'s and tail blackish overlaid with silver gray; tail ti]t]ieil with 

 white and wings more or less edged with the same. Rill and feet black; iris 

 brown. )'oun(j birds much darker and more uniform in coloration than adults — 

 slaty gray to sooty slate with lighter crown and some whitish edging on under- 

 parts. Length iJ.00-13.00; wing 6.00 ('15J); tail 5.75 (143); bill .82 (21); 

 tarsus 1.38 (35). 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size; slaty gray coloration. White of iiead 

 with its abruptly dctined |)atcli of slate on hind neck distinctive as compared with 

 related species of the genus Perisoreus. 



Nesting. — Has not been reported for Washington but bird undoubtedly 

 breeds in the Kalispell range. Xcsl: in coniferous tree, a large compacted mass 

 of the softest and warmest substances, — twigs for a foundation, then grasses, 

 abundant moss, plant-down and feathers. Eggs: 3-5. usually 4, grayish white, 

 spotted and blotched with brown having a tinge of purplish. .\v. size 1.15 .x .85 

 (29.2x21.6). Season: Fcb.-.\pril ; one brood. 



General Range. — Higher ranges of the Rocky Moimtain ilistrict from 

 British Columbia to .Arizona. 



Range in Washington. — Mountains of northeastern corner of State and 

 (probably") the Blue Mountains. 



Authorities. — | "White-headed Jay," Johnson. Rep. Gov. W. T.. 1884 

 (i885» 22.] Ridgway, Birds of North and Middle .\merica, Vol. HI. p. 371, 

 ("Sinzoknotecn Deixit. etc."). 



THF. casual observer, cajiijiing tirst on Calis])ell Peak in Stevens County, 

 and later on Mt. Stuart, in southern Chelan County, might fail to note any 



