486 LAND BIRDS 
Geographical Distribution : Pacific coast from Alaska to Monterey, east 
to the Cascades. 
Breeding Range: Transition zone south through humid coast belt to 
Monterey. 
Breeding Season: April and May (a few rare records in March). 
Nest: Usually placed in fir trees 30 to 55 feet from the ground, some- 
times in other trees or vines; made of twigs, moss, and dry grass, 
well cemented with mud ; lined with fine roots. 
Eggs: 3 to 5; dull, pale, bluish green, spotted and blotched over the 
entire surface with brown and lavender. Size 1.24 X 0.92. 
“ THERE are many handsome blue jays, but the stedlera 
in its numerous forms, with its blue body and high crest, 
is one of the lords of the race, fittingly associated with 
the noblest forests of the West” (Mrs. Bailey). 
The Steller Jay is variously subdivided in California. 
The form known as the Coast Jay is usually resident 
wherever found, and is common in California along the 
coast from Oregon as far as the southern boundary of 
Monterey County. In the vicinity of Monterey and 
Pacific Grove these Jays are very abundant. Some one 
has called them the “policemen of the woods,” but brig- 
ands would be a much more fitting cognomen. Flying in 
bands with jolly good fellowship, they are the torment 
of the more peaceful woodland dwellers. Nowhere are 
they welcome. The appearance of one is the signal for 
the more fearless of the small birds to sally out en masse 
and drive them away ; for right well these helpless wood- 
folk know that here is a monster who will, if he can, 
devour both their eggs and their nestlings. His mim- 
icry of the notes of various birds of prey strikes terror to 
the mother birds brooding the young and to the father 
on guard near by. Small wonder he is hated. 
