FLORIDA JAY. 1C5 



COLOR. Adult. Above, including wings nml tail, dark-blue, with the top of the anterior part of the head, lighter. 

 Inner wcKs ul' wing feathers, dark-brown. Lories, space around eye, car coverts, and under wing covert", dusky. Beneath, 

 yellowM:-ash. witli a sliglit collar crossing the breast, and under tail coverts, bluish. The throat and under portions of 

 neck arc streaked with dusky. Bill and feet, black. 



Yuuny. Quite similar to the adult, but duller, with less blue on the breast, and the top of the head is. lighter. Sex- 

 es, similar in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There is occasionally a superciliary line of whitish, while the throat is tinged with bluish, and the colors above are 

 duller. This is especially noticeable in skins which I obtained at Cedar Keys and on the west coast of Florida. Thus it 

 will be seen that Floridana approaches the western forms, for I am inclined to regard the so-called Woodhouseii and Calif or- 

 nica as only local races of this species. Distributed throughout Middle and Northern Florida, also quite likely along the 

 Gulf of Mexico in suitable localities. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of ten specimens from Ftorida. Length, 12'00; stretch, 14'55; wing, 4'52; tail, 50'7; bill, 1'05; 

 tarsus, 1-:JO. Longest specimen, 12'50; greatest extent of wing, 15'GO; longest wing, 4'75; tail. 5-90; bill, I'lO; tarsus, T40. 

 Shortest specimen, ll'SO; smallest extent of wing, 14' 10; shortest wing, 4 - 30; tail, 4'25; bill, I'OO; tarsus, T20. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Ncsls, placed in bushes, composed of sticks and roots, lined with weeds and rootlets. Dimensions, external diameter, 

 6-00, internal, 4'50. External depth, 3'50, internal, 2'00. 



Eyys, four in number, oval in form, olive-green in color, spotted and blotched with black. Dimensions from 1'lOx '55 

 to 1-85 x -90. 



HABITS. 



The soil of Florida is mainly sandy and, although capable of producing much more 

 vegetation than one would suppose when cultivated, is in many sections covered with noth- 

 ing larger than shrubbery which is mostly composed of dwarf and willow oaks. The usual 

 height of these trees is about five feet, but in some localities they attain to nearly double 

 tliis altitude and then the plains which they cover are called high scrub land to distinguish 

 them from the low scrub. As related, the latter is inhabited by the White-eyed Towhee, 

 while in the former the Florida Jays find a home, and as this peculiar growth is confined to 

 certain sections, these birds are quite local in distribution. Thus the first place in which I 

 found them, in going up the St. John's River, was at Blue Springs. Here they were abun- 

 dant, and they occupied a belt of country some forty-five miles wide, extending from the 

 above named part to the coast. They were also numerous on the East side of Indian River 

 as far south, at least, as Merritt's Island, but the strong hold of these birds is in the high 

 scrub lands of the Western Coast, where they fairly swarm. They occur as far south as 

 Tampa Bay, and I found them in quite large flocks on the main-land opposite Cedar Keys. 

 How much further west they extend I am unable to say, but should not be surprised to 

 find them in suitable localities along the entire northern shore of the Gulf of Mexico. 



The Florida Jays are noisy birds at times, and the first intimation which one receives 

 of their presence is a harsh scream which is given as a note of alarm. As they usually 

 move in flocks, this cry is taken up by others, and soon the scrub for many rods around 

 will be resounding with these peculiar sounds. When undisturbed they feed on the ground 

 or in bashes bat, upon the approach of an intruder, will mount the highest point available, 

 where they remain until driven away. They are not usually shy and will allow one to 



