iSS6.] Anthony on Birds of Washington County, Oregon. 1 67 



nest is a very bulky aftair, built of large sticks and twigs, with a good sup- 

 ply of mud, and lined with fine, dry grass. One found in April was eight 

 feet up in a small fir. It contained four bright blue eggs, with a few light 

 brown spots on the large end. 



61. Aphelocoma californica. California Jay. — Rare. A few were 

 seen at Beaverton in October. It seems to be more common in the western 

 part of the county. 



62. Perisoreus obscurus. Oregon Ja\\ — Common winter resident. 

 Fearless is an appropriate term to use in relation to this bird ; it seems 

 utterly devoid of fear. While dressing deer in the thick timber I have been 

 almost covered with Jays flying down from the neighboring trees. They 

 would settle on my back, head, or shoulders, tugging and pulling at each 

 loose shred of my coat until one would think that their only object was to 

 help me in all ways possible. At such times their only note is a low, plain- 

 tive cry. 



In March they depart for the mountains to breed, although a few some- 

 times stay and breed in the more secluded parts of the county. On March 

 31, 1884, I took a nest and set of five eggs, which I think are the first 

 discovei'ed. The nest was placed about eighty-five feet from the ground in 

 a fir, very well concealed. It was built close against the trunk, and was 

 composed of sticks, twigs, and moss, rather loosely put together, and 

 lined with cow hair, a few bunches of wool, and one or two feathers of 

 Bpnasa. It measured: Inside diameter. 3. 12 inches; depth, 2.85 inches ; 

 outside diameter, 1.75 inches; depth, 5 inches. The eggs were five, very 

 light blue, with a grayish cast, thickly covered with spots of brown and 

 lilac, collected chiefly on the larger end. In one specimen were a few black 

 hair-like lines over the large end. They are now in the United States 

 National Museum. The breeding of this Jay here is a departui-e from its 

 usual habits, I think. 



63. Agelaius phceniceus. Red-winged Blackbird. — Not common at 

 Beaverton. This and the two following species are rather rare in the 

 eastern part of the county, but were very abundant in the tules about 

 Wapita Lake. 



64. Agelaius gubernator. Bicolored Blackbird. — A few seen at 

 Beaverton. Abundant throughout the western part of the county. 



65. Agelaius tricolor. 'J'ricolored Blackbird. — The same remarks 

 apply to this as to the preceding. 



66. Sturnella magna neglecta. Western Meadow Lark. — Common. 

 Hundreds were snowed under in the blizzard last winter, and were after- 

 wards found dead, in little companies of six or eight. 



67. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus. Brewer's Blackbird. — Abun- 

 dant summer resident. A few are seen throughout the winter; breeds in 

 the deep grass and weeds along the ditch banks. In the fall of 18S4 a pair 

 of partial albinos were shot in company. They were alone, rather an un- 

 usual occurrence at this season, and the only Blackbirds seen for some 

 time. During the spring of 1885, while this species was migrating, 

 albinos were very plenty. At one time two were seen in a flock of a 



