232 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



48 I a. Xantus Jay. Aphelocoma California hypoleuca. 



Range. Lower California. 



The habits and nests and eggs of this lighter colored variety do not differ 

 from those of the California Jay. 



48 I b. Belding Jay. Aphelocoma californica obscura. 



Range. San Pedro Martir Mts., Lower California. 



A darker variety of the California Jay, whose nesting habits will not differ in 

 any essential particular. 



481. 



Santa Cruz Jay. Aphelocoma insularis. 



Range. Santa Cruz Island, California. 



This species is the largest and darkest colored 

 bird of the genus Aphelocoma. It is said to be a very 

 abundant species on the island from which it takes its 

 name, and to have the habits and traits common to all 

 the members of the Jay family. The nesting habits are 

 the same as those of the others, but the eggs are slightly 

 larger, averaging 1.15 x .85. The one figured is from a 

 set of three in the collection of John Lewis Chilas, taken 



[Greenish blue. 



by R. H. Beck on May 10, 1897. 



\jjjjjmjjjjljr 

 1 Robin blue.] 



482. Arizona Jay. Aphelocoma sieberii arizonze. 



Range. Arizona and southwestern New Mexico south into Mexico. 



This species differs from the preceding ones in having 

 the upperparts of a uniform bluish, and in being without 

 streaks on the underparts, and with no dusky ear patches. 

 These birds, while they have the usual Jay traits, are 

 more sociable during the breeding season and often 

 small companies of from two to ten pairs nest in the 

 same clump of trees, placing their nests in crotches at 

 low elevations. The nests are made of small sticks and 

 rootlets and generally lined with finer rootlets or horse 

 hair. The eggs are a bright robin blue color, unmarked 

 and number from three to six. Size 1.20 x .85. 



482a. Couch Jay. A. s. couchi. 



Range. Eastern Mexico, north to western Texas. 



483. Green Jay. Xanthoura luxuosa glaucescens. 



Range. Northeastern Mexico and the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. 



~ This handsome species has a bright blue crown and 



patches under the eyes, the rest of the upper parts being 

 greenish; throat and sides of head black, underparts green- 

 ish white. This gaudy and noisy bird has all the habits 

 common to other Jays including that of robbing birds' 

 nests. They build generally in tangled thickets or low 

 bushes, placing their nests at a low elevation and making 

 them of twigs, weeds, moss, etc., lined with fine rootlets. 

 Their four or five eggs, which are laid during April or May, 

 are grayish buff in color, spotted with various shades of 

 brown and lavender gray. Size 1.20 x .85. 



[Grayish buff.] 



