NO. 2 FOSSIL AND SUBFOSSIL BIRDS — WETMORE I3 



trochleae, and more widely open groove on the anterior face of the 

 head between the external and internal cotylae, identify this bone 

 in the gray jays from species of similar size of the genera Cyanocitta 

 and Aphelocoma. 



This is another bird that is found in modern times in the coniferous 

 forests of the north and northwest, with extension southward only 

 along the higher mountains of the west. In much of this area it 

 ranges in the same regions as the spruce grouse, also its companion 

 in ancient Virginia. 



The present record is the first report of the gray jay in the 

 prehistoric period. 

 Cyanocitta cnstafa (Linnaeus) : Blue Jay. 



One: A complete left humerus. 



The widely ranging eastern blue jay is reported from the Pleisto- 

 cene of Florida. 

 Pica pica (Linnaeus) : Black-billed Magpie. 



One: Proximal half of a left humerus. 



This record is one of particular interest since, though the magpie 

 in the Old World is spread from western Europe across northern 

 Siberia, in North America it has been restricted to the western half 

 of the continent. The find in Virginia indicates an early distribution 

 to the eastward, with subsequent withdrawal westward, a circum- 

 stance without apparent explanation. Many magpie bones have been 

 found in caves and other ancient deposits throughout Europe, but 

 the present find is the first report from America, since Dr. Brodkorb 

 informs me that a record for it from the lower Pleistocene of Randall 

 County, Tex., refers to another species. 



Family SITTIDAE: Nuthatches 



Sitta canadensis Linnaeus : Red-breasted Nuthatch. 



One: A left humerus, complete. 



This nuthatch is present in Virginia now as a breeding species 

 wherever spruce forest remains on the higher mountains, and as a 

 winter visitor from the north. 



It is recorded from deposits of late Pleistocene age in California, 



Family MIMIDAE : Mockingbirds, Thrashers 



Toxostoma rufiim (Linnaeus) : Brown Thrasher. 

 One : A complete right humerus. 

 This is the first report of this bird in the prehistoric period. 



