320 CORVID^E : CROWS AND JAYS. 



Unlike all the other Jays of America, " Whiskey 

 Jack " is a boreal and alpine species, seldom observed 

 in the United States except along our northern border 

 and among the mountains of the West. It is resident 

 in northern New England, and is apparently one of 

 those species, like the Hudsonian Titmouse, whose 

 range in the breeding season defines the Canadian 

 Fauna. Not being properly a migratory bird, it only 

 casually occurs beyond such limits. Mr. Merriam 

 makes no allusion to its presence in Connecticut, and 

 Mr. Allen's Massachusetts list includes it only among 

 the probabilities of Berkshire County. According to 

 Mr. Maynard, specimens have been taken in June, at 

 Umbagog, which is south of its usual summer range. 

 Mr. Cutting informs me that it breeds in Vermont. 

 A Maine nest found by Mr. Boardman is described 

 as built upon a platform of interlaced twigs, being 

 closely felted with mosses and lined with feathers. An 

 egg formerly in my possession, measuring 1.17x0.80, 

 was ashy-gray, finely dotted with yellowish-brown. 

 Four or five are said to be the usual number laid. 



In his recent work, " The Birds of Eastern North 

 America," p. 168, Mr. Maynard speaks of seeing an 

 individual at Newtonville, Mass., early in the sum- 

 mer. Having nearly caught the bird, he succeeded 

 in identifying it beyond question. He writes that the 

 species is said to breed in February, in evergreen- 

 trees. Mr. Lawrence notes a specimen shot in mid- 

 summer at Manhattanville, New York Island. This 

 interesting species is variously known as Whiskey 

 Jack, Meat Hawk, Carrion Bird, and Moose Bird. 



