198 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 
Finally, the eggs show a regular gradation between the smallest northwestern 
and largest Floridan. The most peculiar habit of northwestern birds is that 
mentioned by J. K. Lord, in the close resemblance of their nests to those of 
the magpie. But as they do not build such nests near the mouth of the 
Columbia where no magpies are found, I have no doubt that those he saw 
thus used had been stolen from the magpies by the stronger crows. 
Proa? (Proa var.) Nutratti—Yellow-billed Magpie—p. 295. This variety or 
race of the cireumboreal Coracias Pica Linn. 1735, is not common near Mon- 
terey, as was stated on authority of Dr. Canfield, as I saw only two or three 
pairs within six miles, and a native of the place told me he had not seen so 
many before in thirty years. They are, however, great wanderers, like the 
other races, and may reside a few years at a place which they afterwards desert 
for a longer or shorter period. I have been told that they were formerly 
numerous in places where none are now found, and in 1855 I found them 
common twenty miles nearer San Francisco, to the south, than they were in 
1873, when I saw none nearer that city than sixty miles in any direction. 
One reasou may be the reckless scattering of poisoned grain by the farmers 
to destroy squirrels, which has also destroyed the quails and numerous small 
birds, besides driving off or killing the crows and jays. But, on the other 
hand, in 1860 I found the var. hudsonica numerous at Ft. Vancouver, Columbia 
River, where I saw none in 1853-4, but where Townsend and Nuttall saw a 
few also in 1834. The high cold winds are sufficient cause for their permanent 
absence from near S. F. Bay, where several other birds are equally absent for 
the same reason, especially those of non-migratory habits. 
Cyanura SreLuert--Steller’s Jay—p. 298—(var. frontatis Ridgw. 1874). I 
found a few of these birds breeding in the dense pine woods at Monterey in 
1874, and shot a young bird of the year in July, 1875, about 25 miles east of 
San Francisco, which had probably been raised in the redwoods at least 12 
miles distant. 
ConToPus BOREALIS—Olive-sided Flycatcher—p. 323. The statement by 
myself that this bird is ‘“ resident ’’ north of Monterey is not confirmed by 
late observations, though I have never seen any migrating through the south- 
ern part of California, which ought to be as well suited for them in winter as 
Texas. If they fly from one pine-clad range to another when migrating, with- 
out stopping on the way, their journeys must be long and far to the eastward. 
Contopus Ricuarpsonu—-Short-legged Flycatcher—p. 325. Although most 
late authors rank this as a western race of C. virens, they do not mention in- 
termediate specimens, and the differences, from their own accounts, appear 
quite marked. This has the wings longer and more pointed, feet larger and 
stouter, darker back, no light space on breast, more forked tail, and different 
notes and habits. Both breed in Texas and both winter in Central America, 
apparently without mixing. The two species are as different as C. borealis 
and C. pertinax. The western bird, though ranging to Wisconsin, can scarce- 
ly be supposed to reach Labrador habitually, and it now appears that Au- 
dubon’s description of the nest and eggs found there was entirely incorrect, 
answering better to that of some warbler. 
