156 PASSERES : Perching Birds 



SCORCHED HORNED LARK 



(474h. Otocoris alpestris adusta) 6f in. 

 Back darker, pinkish brown (hence the name " Scorched")' 



MONTEZUMA HORNED LARK 



(4741. Otocoris alpestris occidentalis) 7 in. 

 Nearest like the Desert Horned Lark, but larger and upper 

 parts faintly tinged with cinnamon or buffy. 



FAMILY MAGPIES, JAYS, etc. 



Birds of medium size, mostly dull-colored, mixtures of 

 grays, blue, and black; or large size, black and white, or all black. 

 Bills usually strong, in some species very large. 



YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE 



(476. Pica nuttalli) 16-18 in. 



Black, with broad white stripe along base of wing (scapulars) ; 

 white belly; and much white in open wing; closed wing and long 

 tail largely metallic green and purplish. Bill bright yellow. 



A bird of striking appearance, particularly in flight, when its 

 white-and-black pattern and long tail are most conspicuous. 



Gregarious in habit, and execrated by its human neighbors as 

 a pest; extermination of the species seems only a matter of time. 



BLUE-FRONTED JAY 



(478a. Cyanocitta stelleri frontalis) 12 in. 



Head with tall crest; back, head, and neck sooty black; other- 

 wise blue, brightest on wings and tail ; narrow light blue stripes 

 on forehead. 



At a distance, shaded by pine branches, appears wholly black; 

 but crest affords absolute identification. 



Destructive to eggs and young of other birds, a habit 

 characteristic of all the Jays. Becomes quite familiar about 

 camp if unmolested. 



