290 SolVni AMEiaCAN UIliDS. 



coiTuctnc'Ss of this statement, it is wortliv of niL'iition tliiit tliese birds have 

 not been met tiiere by more ivcunt coUectois, and that Dr. Newberry no- 

 where met witli tiiem in Oregon. Dr. I'ooper suggests that, since then, the 

 increased severity of the winters may have dri\ en them permanently larther 

 south. 



Mr. Xuttall describes its habits as verv nmch like those of the Blue Jav. 

 It usually Ihes out to the tops of the tallest i)iues, jerks its tail, and perches 

 l)layiully on some extreme branch, where, as if in anger, it calls icoit, icoit- 

 u'oit, with an occasiouid recognition note of tr^ec-tu'cc. AVhen pursued, it 

 retreats to the sliade of the loftiest branches. It feeds on insects, acorns, 

 which it breaks up, and i>ii;e seeds. He describes it as a graceful, active, 

 and shy bird, with a note much less harsh and loud than that of Steller's 

 Jav. 



Dr. Cooper remarks that this sj^ecies is one of the most common and 

 conspicuous of tlie birds of the State of California. They frequent every 

 locality in which oak-trees are found, even Mithin the limits of large towns, 

 where they enter gardens and audaciously plunder the fruit. They have all 

 the usual cunning of their tribe, and when alarmed become very (piiet, and 

 conceal themselves in the tliick foliage. They are usually noisy and fear- 

 less, ami their odd cries, grotestjue actions, and bright plumage make them 

 general favorites in spite of tlieir depredations. They are also said to have 

 a talent for mimicry, V>esides notes to express their variou^^ wants and ideas. 



They breed abundantly throughout the western parts of California, and 

 construct a large and strong nest of twigs, roots, and grass. These are 

 placetl in a low tree or bush. They lav about five eggs, which Dr. Cooper 

 descriljes as dark green marked with numerous pale brown blotches and 

 spots, and measure 1.80 by l.U-i inches. At San Diego he found these eggs 

 laid as early as April 5. 



This Jay inhabits the Coast Iiange of mountains to their summit, south 

 of S;in Francisco, and the Sierra Nevada as far as the oaks extend, or to an 

 elevation (tf from 1,000 to 0,000 feet. Dr. Cooper saw none on the east side 

 of tlie Sierra Nevada in latitude 39°. 



He describes their tbght as slow^ and laborious, on account of their short 

 wings, and states that thev never Hv far at a time. He also accuses them 

 of being very destructive to the eggs of smaller birds, hunting for them in 

 tlie spring, and watching the movements of other birds with great attention. 



Mr. Xantus found these birds very abundant at Cape St. Lucas, being, 

 like all the other resident species there, much smaller than those occurring 

 in more northern localities. Their habits are said to ])e verv much the 

 same. 



This species was taken in winter near Oaxaca, ^lexico, by ^Ir. Boucard. 



Four eggs of this species from different ]>arts of California present the 

 following measurements : 1.20 x 0.S5 ; l.lO X 0-80 ; 1.13 X 0.8(» ; 1.05 X 0.80. 

 The measurements given by Dr. Cooper we are confident must be a mistake. 



