66 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 9 



Bi.iiR-FRONTED Jay. Cyanocitta stelleri frontalis (Ridgway). 



During the winter of 1900-01 large numbers of these jays invaded the valley, 

 being found literally by hundreds everywhere eastward from Fresno, where they 

 frequented the trees bordering the vineyards, roadsides and ditches. Their large 

 size and gay plumage rendered them very noticeable, and no doubt not a few of 

 their number were missing when the blue-coated host returned to its Sierran 

 home. The species has not been observed in the valley since that time. 



California Jay. Aphelocoma californica califomica (Vigors). 



The California Jay being a bird of the foothill region is not of common oc- 

 currence in the vicinity of Fresno, but it is found at several points within the 

 limits of this work. It is often met with in the willow thickets along the San 

 Joaquin River, especially in the vicinity of orchards, and comes down Dry Creek, 

 east of Clovis, to within about six miles of that place. The river bottom belovv' 

 Centerville is another place where jays are to be found. It would not be sur- 

 prising to find this species at Laton or in the oak region near Riverdaie, although 

 I have not observed them at either place. 



A nest found near Letcher April 5, 1908, situated eight feet from the ground 

 in a partlv dead willow near the creek, contained five eggs in which incubation 

 was nearly complete. Another nest found below Academy on May 9 of the same 

 year, held small young, w^hile a third nest, found May 18, 1908, held three eggs. 

 From this data it would seem that the nesting time of this bird is from the last 

 of March through May, at least. 



I have several times heard the call of this species in a large willow-grown 

 swamp near Sunnyside, east of the city, but was never certain that the notes were 

 not produced by a Mockingbird. As the California Jay is not to be found any- 

 where in the vicinity of Fresno in sufficient numbers to exert much influence 

 over other species, 1 will not attempt to take up the discussion of its habits or 

 alleged destructiveness. 



Western Raven. Corvus corax sinuatus Wagler. 



On only two or three occasions has the Raven been identified in the Fresno 

 district, and it must be considered rare. It occurs on the plains to the southwest 

 of Fresno, and along the eastern base of the Coast Range Mountains, being ob- 

 served by the writer principally in winter. 



April 12, 1902, a nest with heavily incubated eggs was found in an old de- 

 serted barn about fifteen miles northwest of Wheatville. This nest, fastened 

 rather insecurely in the forks of an upright post about twelve feet above the 

 floor, was composed of dry, bleached sage-brush sticks, and lined with wool and 

 burlap shreds. A great heap of sticks, nearly four feet high, below the struc- 

 ture, indicated with what difficulty the Ravens had made the foundation to their 

 nest. 



Two or three years later I again visited the place and found that, from all 

 appearances, campers had spent several days in the barn, and had not only burned 

 up the mass of sticks on the ground, but had torn down the nest as well for fuel 



We;stern Crow. Corvus brachjThynchos hesperis Ridgway. 

 Even the casual observer, it would seem, could hardly fail to be interested 

 in this bird, especially as it is by no means a common species in the vicinity of 



