84 EXPLOKATIONS AND SURVEYS WEST OF 100TH MERIDIAN. 



a dive for the fortunate possessor, and both pursuers and pursued would 

 disappear among the pines. I have little doubt but that they nest in 

 the cavities of trees, and one was seen to enter a hole, which contained 

 apparently the remains of an old nest. Young birds taken in June are 

 easily distinguished from the old by the general hoariness of the 

 plumage. In these the bluish ash is replaced to a great extent by a 

 plumbeous white, becoming almost pure white about the throat. 



60. Gymnokitta cyanocephala (Maxim.) Maximilian's Jay. 



This curious jay seems to be as eminently gregarious during the 

 summer-moriths'as later in the fall and winter. I frequently saw them 

 flying from place to place in search for food, always keeping up their 

 harsh, querulous notes, which, though somewhat jay-like, are yet 

 peculiar to this bird. They seem to shun the dense pine-forests, and 

 keep in the open, hilly country, where they always are found among 

 the piiions and cedars. 



61. Pica melanoleuca V., var. hudsonica, Sab. Magpie. 



On the Huerfano River, May 22, this species was very common, and 

 many of their nests were seen among the thick branches of the small 

 trees, usually about twenty feet from the ground. These are clumsy, 

 dome-like structures, made of coarse sticks, the bottom of the nest 

 being lined with mud. The birds enter through a small hole left in the 

 side, which is scarcely to be seen from the ground. One nest contained 

 seven nearly fledged young, and as I was climbing up to examine the 

 structure, alarmed, they clambered out, and after clinging to the sides 

 of the nest till I had nearly reached them, they one after another 

 launched themselves out, and soon tumbled to the ground. Meantime 

 the parent birds made their appearance, and their cries of rage soon 

 brought at least a dozen birds to their assistance. The whole colony 

 kept flying around my head, screaming and scolding, and exhibiting 

 the utmost rage 5 nor did they cease their outcries and efforts to dis- 

 tract my attention, till they had seen me well away from the neigh- 

 borhood. 



62. Cyanura stelleri (Gm.), var. macrolopha Bd. Long-crested Jay. 

 This beautiful bird is very abundant throughout the pine-region. It 



is usually quite shy and suspicious, but on the Eio Grande they daily 



