NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



231 



479. Florida Jay. Aphelocoma cyanea. 

 Range. Locally distributed in Florida. 



^fl^^^^. All the birds of this genus have no crests or decided 



markings, are white or grayish below, and more or less 

 intense blue above, with the back grayish or brownish blue. 

 This species is 11.5 inches long, has a pale blue crown and 

 a nearly white forehead. It has a very limited distribution, 

 being confined chiefly to the coast districts of middle 

 Florida, and very abundant in some localities and rare in 

 adjoining ones. They build shallow structures of small 

 sticks and weeds lined with fine rootlets and placed at low 



elevations in bushes or scrubby trees. The three or four eggs, which are laid in 



April or May are dull greenish blue, marked with olive brown. Size 1.00 x .80. 



Data. Titusville, Fla., April 17, 1899. Nest of sticks in a scrub oak, five feet 



from the ground. Collector, C. H. Jenkins. 



480. Woodhouse Jay. Aphelocoma woodhousei. 



Range. United States west of the Rockies and from Oregon and Wyoming 

 to Mexico. 



This species has the crown and forehead bluish, and 

 the underparts gray, streaked with bluish gray on the 

 breast. It is also larger than the last, being 12 inches 

 long. They are very abundant in the Great Basin be- 

 tween the Rockies and the Sierra Nevadas, breeding dur- 

 ing April or May in scrubby trees or bushes at low ele- 

 vations and generally near streams. They lay from 

 three to five eggs of a dull bluish green color, spotted 

 with umber and lilac gray. Size 1.08 x .80. Data. Iron 

 County, Utah, May 3, 1897. 4 eggs. Nest of sticks and 

 weeds in a small pine tree. Collector, Harry Cooley. 



[Bluish green. J 



480.1. Blue-eared Jay. Aphelocoma cyanotis. 



Range. Interior of Mexico north to the southern boundary of Texas. 



The nesting habits of this species are the same as those of the others of the 

 genus and the eggs are similar but the markings are generally more prominent 

 and larger. Size 1.10 x .80. 



480.2. Texan Jay. Aphelocoma texana. 

 Range. Southeastern Texas. 



It is not likely that the eggs of this species differ essentially from those of 

 many of the others. 



481. California Jay. Aphelocoma calif ornica. 



Range. Pacific coast of California and Washington. 



This is a very abundant species both about habitations 

 and in low woodlands. They are very bold and familiar, 

 stealing everything they may take a fancy to, and fre- 

 quently robbing smaller birds of their eggs and young. 

 They are said to be more tame and familiar than the 

 eastern Blue Jay, thereby bringing their bad habits much 

 more frequently to the attention of the masses. They 

 nest most often in bushes or low trees in thickets, and 

 sometimes in larger trees, but not as a rule, far above 

 the ground. Their eggs are a bright bluish green color, 



[Bright bluish green 



specked and spotted with brownish and lavender. Size 1.10 x .80. 



