CORVID.E — THE CROWS. 27'j 



sapling of tlie Douglas fir, on tlie lionlers of a donso forest, and, some timu 

 after, a second nest witli young, in an elevated lirancli of another lir, on the 

 border of a rocky cliff, 'riic first nest contained four eggs, of a pale green, 

 nmriv-ed witli small olive-laown spots, varied with others inclining to a violet 

 hue. Tlie ]iarents Hew at him with the utmost anger ami agitalion, almost 

 deafening him with their cries ; and allhougli he took only tw.. of their eggs, 

 the ne.\t day he foUi.d they hud forsaken their nest. TJiis nest was bulky, 

 made of interlaced twigs and roots, with a stout layer of mud, and lined 

 witli black rootlets. One of tlie eggs taken by .Mr. Xuttall is in my cabinet, 

 and is as he describes it, except that the oliscure markings of violet have 

 nearly faded out. It measures 1.20 inches in length, and .!»(» in breailth, is 

 oval in shajje, and a little more obtuse at one; end than at the other. 



This Jay was obtained by Steller at Xootka, (m the west coast of Van- 

 couver Island, in latitude oO°. ?t was also found in abundance by .Mr. Dall 

 at Sitka, in British Columbia, where a number of specimens were oljtained 

 by Mr. BischoiT and by :\Ir. IClliot. 



Mr. J. K. Lord states that this Jay ever makes its ]iresence known by the 

 constant utterance of discordant .screams. It is continually hopj)iiig from 

 bougli to bough, darting down to catch an insect, ]ierforniing short, erratic 

 flights, and jerking up and down its irest of bright feathers. Its noi.sy song 

 seems to be everywhere. It is the embodiment of restlessness, and, l)y dint 

 of sheer impudence, attracts attention even from tlie liunter. He adds that 

 it seemed fond of freiiiieiiting the haunts of man, and is always ].leiiliful 

 near Indian lodges or white men's shanties. It is by no means eiiiuurean 

 in taste, but readily devours anything, whether seeds or salmon, grasshop- 

 pers or venison. Its nest he found artfully concealed amidst the thick foli- 

 age of a young pine-tree. It was composed of moss, small twigs, lichens, 

 and fir frond,s, and lined with deer's hair. The average number of eggs l.dd 

 ajjpears to be seven. 



Cyanura stelleri, var. frontalis, Ridgway. 



SIERRA JAY. 



Cyanura uteUrri, Auot. All ivfciviicc to Stcllcr's Jay as ocevirriiig in Ciilifoniia, exociiting 

 on the iiortlunn Coast Raiigf, relate to this vaiiety. 



Sp. Cn.\R. Iloiid, nccic, .and donsnl roprion plnmhooiis-nnilKM-, darker on the head, and 

 postori'Hy chantrinpr prcdually into tlio li<rht grccnish-lilMc of the ivst of the liody ; whigs 

 and tail deep indiijo-bhie, the tertials. .«eeondaries, and tail conspimiously marked with 

 hi'oad and rather distant bars of blaek ; primaries frreeni.sh lifrht-liliie, like the rnmp, 

 abdomen, etc. Whole forehead eonspiononsly .■streaked with lilne (the streaks formin<r 

 two parallel serie.'!, wliere the feather.-f are not di.>;arran,L'-ed), and the crest .«trongly tinired 

 with bine. $ (.•)3,C3!), Carson City, Nevada, A])ril 30, l.^()8) : wing, G.OO ; tail, COO ; 

 cnlinen, 1.25; depth of l,ill, .3'); tarsns, 1.5o; middle toe, .90; crest. 2.80. 9 (53.0-10, 

 Carson City, Nevada, April 30, 1808): wing, 5.70; tail, 5.50. Yonuij with the blue of 



