36 BIBDS OF KANSAS. 



been seen there since 1875. I called the Doctor's attention to this, and he re- 

 plies: "I have perfect confidence in Mr. Jordan's statements, and know that he 

 recognizes the birds from his alluding in our late conversation to the two tamed 

 ones that were loose in Ellis last winter." Begin laying early in April. Nest 

 along the streams in low scrubby trees and bushes, from six to fifteen feet from 

 the ground, composed of sticks and twigs, the inside plastered with mud, and 

 lined sparingly with grasses and a few feathers; upon this a rough, dome-like 

 structure of sticks, ingeniously woven, completely covers the nest, leaving a 

 small hole on the side for entrance. Several of the nests that I found in Colo- 

 rado had two openings, and opposite to each other, doubtless to make room 

 for and protect the long tail of the bird, which must be more or less injured 

 where but one entrance is constructed. Eggs, six to nine; 1.30x.92; light 

 green, thickly specked and spotted with drab to purplish brown; in form 

 broadly oval. 



Genus CYANOCITTA Stbiokland. 



B. 434. R. 289. C. 349. G. 146. U. 477. 



184. CJyanocitta cristata (Linn.). Blue Jay. Resident; abundant in eastern, 

 common in middle Kansas. Begin laying the last of April. Nest on the 

 branches of trees and bushes in the forests, and in the vicinity of dwellings, 

 six to twenty feet from the ground, composed of sticks and roots strongly in- 

 terwoven, and lined with rootlets. Eggs, four or five; l.lOx.82; olive, spar- 

 ingly spotted with drab and olive brown; in form oval. 



Subfamily CORVINv^. Ckows. 



Genus CORVUS Linnsius. 



B. 423. 424. R. 280. C. 338. G. 141. U. 486. 



185. Corvus corax sinuatus (Wagl.). American Raven. Resident; rare; not 

 uncommon in western Kansas. Begin laying early in April. Nest on the sides 

 of high, precipitous cliffs and in trees — a coarse, bulky structure of sticks, 

 and lined with grasses, hairs, and sometimes bits of wool and moss. Eggs, 

 1.88x1.30, light greenish-blue, thickly spotted and blotched with purple and 

 blackish brown, in some cases chiefly at large end; in form oval. 



B. 425. R. 281. C. 339. G. 142. U. 487. 



186. Corvus cryptoleucus (Couch). White-necked Raven. Resident in western 

 Kansas: rare; quite common during the fall and winter. Nesting habits said 

 to be similar to the American Raven. 



B. 426. R. 282. C. 340. G. 143. U. 488. 



187. Corvus americanus Aud. American Crow. Resident; abundant in east- 

 ern but not common in western Kansas. Begin laying the last of March to 

 first of April. Nest in the forks of trees, in groves and on the timbered bot- 

 tom lands, thirty to seventy-five feet from the ground, composed of sticks, and 

 lined with grasses, hairs, and fibrous strippings from plants and vines. Eggs, 

 four or five; 1.65x1.20; light to dark green, irregularly blotched with purple 

 and dark brown, usually thickest about large end; in form oval. 



