40 THE OREGON JAY. * 



No. 13. 

 OREGON JAY. 



A. ( >. r. No. 485. Perisoreus obscurus ( Kidgway). 



Synonyms. — Camp Robbkk. Mkat I'.ikd. Dekk Hi ntkr. 



Description. — .Idiilts: In general iippcrparts doii) l)ri)\vni>li gray; muler- 

 parts wliite tiiij,'e(l witli brown i sli ; forclicad and nasal ])luniulcs most nearly clear 

 white; eliiii. tliroat. cheeks, anricnlars. and ol)>cnre band around neck white 

 more or less tinged with brownish; crown and nape sooty brown, nearly black; 

 feathers of back with white shafts more or less exposed ; wing^^ and tail drab gray, 

 the former with whitish edging on middle and greater coverts and tertials. Bill 

 and feet black; iris brown. )'oiiiiij hirjs are nearly uniform sooiy brown lighten- 

 ing below. Length 10.001 i.<K): wing 5.30 ( 1.^5) ; tail 5.00 ( 127) ; bill .71 ( 18) ; 

 tarsus i..^o (33). 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size; brownish gray coloration, familiar, fear- 

 less ways. \oi certainly distinguishable afield from the next form. 



Nesting. — Xcst: a bulky compacted structure of twigs, plant-fibers and tree- 

 moss with warm lining of fine mosses and feathers, placed well uyi in fir tree. 

 Efigs: 4 or 5, light gray or pale greenish gray spotted with grayish brown and 

 dull lavender. .\v. size i.04x.7y (2f).4X.20). Season: Keb.-.\pril ; one brood. 



General Range. — I'acilic Coast district from Humboldt county. California, 

 north to \aiuouver Island. Imperfectly made out as regards following fovm. 



Range in Washington. — Probably the Olympic Mountains ami irregularly 

 thru the heavier forests of southwestern Washington. 



Authorities. — /'. canadensis Ronap. Baird, Rep. I'ac. R R. Surv. IX. jit. II. 

 1858. ;iM i)art. Ridgwav, Bull. F.ssex Inst. \'. Nov. 1873. 194. (T) C&S. I.'. 

 Uh. Ra. 1!. !•■.( :-). 



Specimens. — V. of W. I'rov. I".. C. 



THI\ relative distrihution of the Oregon Jay aii<l the more recently dis- 

 tiiignislied Gray Jay is still very imi>crfectly understood. It would appear 

 probable that this form is the bird of the rainy district, including all lowlands 

 of western Washington, the Olympic Mountains, and the western slopes of 

 the Ca.scadcs, and that it gives place to /'. o. griseiis not only u|>on the heights 

 and eastern .slof)es of the Casc.ides, but in the deep valleys which penetrate 

 these nioimtains from the west. 



Certainly it is the Oregon Jay which alumnds in the 01yin|)ic Mountains, 

 anil iuiiong the dense spruce forests of the adjoining coasts. While the bird is 

 more abundant on the lowlands in winter, the prevalent opinion that the Oregon 

 Jay is exclusively a bird of the mountains is probably incorrect, .\ltho Imld 

 enough where nndisturU-d. the birds sivmi learn caution: :md their nests have 



