258 NKSTS AND EGGS OF 



Norris has eggs that measure as large as 1.57 x .94 and as small as 1.21 

 x .91. An average egg measures 1.32 x .89. 



476. Pica nuttalli AUD [287.] 



Yellow-billed Magpie. 



Hab. California. 



The Yellow-billed Magpie is confined exclusively to California, 

 where it breeds abundantly ; and it begins nesting about the first of 

 April. Its general habits are like those of P. hudsonica, and the nest 

 is similarly constructed. 



The eggs range from five to nine in number, usually six or seven. 

 They are of a light drab, so thickly marked with fine cloudings of an 

 obscure lavender color as nearly to conceal the ground, and to give the 

 egg the appearance of an almost violet-brown. A set of six eggs, col- 

 lected in Wheeler Canon, near Santa Paula, California, exhibit the fol- 

 lowing dimensions : i.3ix.89, i.28'x.89, i.3ix.89, 1.32 x. 89, i.3Ox.88, 

 i.28x .90. A set of six eggs in my cabinet, taken from a nest situated 

 twenty feet from the ground in an oak tree, near Santa Barba, Califor- 

 nia, April 10, 1887, offers the following sizes: 1.30 x. 85, 1.29 x. 84, 1.29 

 x.go, i.3ox.82, 1.28 x.8i, i. 25 x. 86. 



477. Cyanocitta cristata (LINN.) [289.] 



Blue Jay. 



Hab. Eastern North America except Florida, west to the Plains, north to the Fur Countries. 



The well-known Blue Jay is abundant in Eastern North America, 

 where it breeds in the latter part of April, in May and June, according 

 to locality. He is a conspicuous member of a family of questionable 

 character and, as in the case of the Magpie, unjust prejudices have 

 doubtless done much to brand him a profligate. His fine personal dress, 

 and noisy, boisterous habits, only serve to make him the more promi- 

 nent as a rowdy full of cunning traits. Yet no observer will dispute 

 that the sagacity often evinced by this bird his forethought, intelli- 

 gence and sensibility, are strongly akin to reason ; and according to the 

 treatment received from man he is justly either shy or wary, confiding 

 or familiar. 



The nest of the Blue Jay is built in the branches of a lonely forest 

 tree, in the trees of orchards, in those bordering quiet roadways or 

 lanes, and, where the bird is not molested it is commonly placed not 

 far from dwelling-houses, in trees or bushes. The nest is large, and 

 the materials used are various twigs, leaves, roots and vegetable fibres 

 rudely but strongly interwoven ; often paper, rags, wool and yarn enter 

 into its composition. The eggs are four or five in number, olive-brown 

 or olive-drab, thickly spotted with dark olive-brown. In some speci- 

 mens the ground-color is light or dark green, similar to that in the 



