fc 



782 The Sparrow-like Birds 



birds, and I think equally destructive. It is usually a constant resident and 

 breeds wherever found. It is an inhabitant of the canyons and pine-clad slopes 

 of the higher mountains, and is not as often seen in the deep forests as on their 

 outskirts near watercourses. Although rarely molested, it is exceedingly shy and 

 more difficult to approach within gunshot range than is the Blue Jay." Its 

 feeding habits, however, are similar except that it makes perhaps greater use of 

 pine seeds. Its nest, in the construction of which mud always enters, is placed in 

 a coniferous tree at heights varying from five to fifty or sixty feet. The eggs 

 are pale bluish green, spotted and blotched with brown and lavender. 



The California Jay may be taken as typical of a large genus of medium- 

 sized American. Jays (Aphelocoma) which are without a crest and have the 

 prevailing color of the plumage uniform blue or blue and gray. The California 

 Jay (A calif ornica), as its name implies, is found in the Pacific coast district 

 from southern California north to southwestern Washington, and east to and 

 including the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges, frequent- 

 ing the oak-covered foot-hill regions, the brush-covered canyons, and lower agri- 

 cultural districts, where it does an immense amount of damage in destroying 

 eggs and nestling birds, fruits of all kinds as well as sprouting grain, and is often 

 known to enter poultry houses in quest of eggs. Not nearly so shy as the species 

 before mentioned, it appears to be on the increase and comes readily into the 

 shrubbery about villages and towns. Its notes are harsh and rasping, and like 

 its relatives it possesses the power of mimicry and takes the same delight in 

 mobbing Owls and other large birds. The nest is usually placed in a low bush, 

 thicket, or hedge, and the complement of eggs varies from three to six, the usual 

 number being four or five. 



Florida Jay. Not greatly different from this is the Florida Jay (A. cyanea), 

 or Scrub or Bush Jay, as it is called locally, which is practically confined to the 

 impenetrable thickets of scrubby oaks and stunted pines, and- although not 

 particularly shy, generally manages to keep pretty well concealed amongst the 

 underbrush. In favorable situations they are said to breed in loose communi- 

 ties, probably rearing two broods. 



Siberian and Canada Jays. All travelers in the northern coniferous forests 

 have doubtless met with the fluffy, gray-plumaged Jays of the genus Perisoreus, 

 which at first sight suggest gigantic Titmice. About twelve inches in length, 

 they are without a crest, but have the feathers of the back and head very long 

 and soft, the prevailing color in the American form being uniform dusky grayish, 

 becoming whitish beneath. Of the three species the Siberian Jay (P. infauslus], 

 which has the back and under parts lead-gray, the rump and tail-feathers largely 

 rufous, is found in northern Europe and Asia, the others being natives of North 

 America, the best-known being the Canada Jay (P. canadensis\ which in several 

 geographic races spreads over most of the northern country and southward 

 in the Rocky Mountains almost to Mexico; in the Pacific coast region it is 

 replaced by the Oregon Jay (P. obscurus). The Canada Jay, which is locally 

 known as the Whisky Jack, Moose Bird, Meat Bird, Camp Robber, and Venison 

 Hawk, is one of the most characteristic inhabitants of the extensive pine, spruce, 



