EXPLORATION IN UPPER CALIFORNIA IN 1860. 427 
articularly in the morning and evening, does his best to please his mate with 
fis song, which much resembles the creaking of a gate in want of oil. Should 
a hawk approach their breeding place, the alarm is given and hundreds will be 
secn fluttering about the intruder, less with intention to fight than to annoy him 
with their noise, which they continue until he has left. 
Several nests sent on by me are of another species of blackbirds, which breed 
on the ground in little brushes or bunch-grass, but I am not able to give their 
names. 
Picicorvus columbianus, (Clark’s crow.)—This species I first observed about 
Pitt river, and on Stoneman’s ridge, in very small numbers, but on the moun- 
tains between Klamath river and Butte Creek valley I met with them in 
abundance, flying from tree-top to tree-top, like a jay, emitting from time to 
time a note or ery resembling very much that of a crow, and hammering on 
the bark of trees and on pine nuts, upon which it very probably feeds. It isa 
very shy bird and difficult to secure. On opening some of them, towards the 
end of May, I found quite large eggs formed in the female; but I never saw a 
nest. 
Cyanura stelleri, (Steller’s jay.)—This jay , the most cunning of its tribe, I 
met with everywhere in the timber or brush along rivers or creeks. On the 
approach of any intruder it utters a vehement outcry, jumping from limb to 
limb, and from one tree to the next, until out of sight. In addition to this 
single note, this bird has the faculty of mimicking other species with great 
exactness. Jays, in general, are active, lively birds, but this species is superior 
to all others in California, feeding indifferently on the ground or on trees. 
During the summer season it keeps constantly in the forest, but heavy falls 
of snow compel it to seek food and shelter about the settlements, and then it is 
easily caught in traps. When caged it soon becomes tamed, and eats freely of 
meat in preference to a vegetable diet. 
Gymnokitta cyanocephala, (Maximilian’s jay.)—The first time I saw this bird 
was at Fort Tejon, California. They generally fly in flocks, keeping on or 
along the mountains, and, when so moving, their notes, which are almost pleasing, 
are frequently given forth so as to guide the stragglers; but when in search of 
food they are perfectly quiet, and the start for a new flight is announced by 
commencing their notes again. 'Vhey generally fly very high, and feed mostly 
on cedar-berries, but also search on the ground for food. It is difficult to ap- 
proach and shoot them wherever they are, as they are always on the lookout; 
in fact, all that I killed were obtained by secreting myself under a tree, &c., 
on a place where I had previously seen some pass, those in the rear always 
following in the same direction, guided by the notes of the party in advance. 
One day I observed a flock drinking. 'The whole of them first alighted on a 
tree near the creek, and finding all quiet, about four of them took to the ground 
and satisfied their thirst. When these were done they returned to the tree; then 
all the others followed their example. By this arrangement some were on guard 
all the time. No sound or note was uttered until all had done, then the flight 
and noise recommenced. In the winter of 1858 I caught several of them; in fact 
two came of their own accord into my room and made themselves quite at home, 
which astonished me very much, because I had found this bird to be very wild. 
The intense cold, however, and the covering up of their food by the snow, 
compelled them to take refuge about our quarters until the snow had gone from 
most of the country. 
Perisoreus canadensis, (Canada jay.)—This bird I first saw in 1859, in small 
numbers, when on an Indian scout, about Lossen’s butte, hovering noiselessly 
about the road, catching flies by darting from one tree or bush to another. 
Their flight is light and easy. About Shasta butte (north and east side) I 
found them in large numbers, up to twenty together, noiselessly and busily 
engaged, and searching for insects on the ground. Here I shot and preserved 
