234 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SUKVEY. [Vol. YL 



ApJielocoma tvoodhousei (Baird) Eidgw. — Woodhouse's Jay. 



Eatlier common, and frequents the watered canons of the mountain 

 ranges. Henshaw and Yarrow report it from the eastern portions of 

 the State, while Mr. Eidgway mentions it as abundant on the western 

 slope of the Humboldt Mountains in September. Dr. Coues found it 

 very abundant in Arizona, " being found everywhere, but jjreferring 

 open hillsides among the scrub-oaks." This bird was found very com- 

 mon in the juniper groves on the western border of the Colorado Plateau 

 in Arizona, about 25 miles south of the Colorado Eiver ; they appear to 

 feed upon the berries at that season (October). 



Aplielocoma californica (Vig.) Caban. — California Jay. 



This variety is reported by Mr. Henshaw to cross the Sierra range, 

 and is found along the eastern slope of the mountains. " It reaches, 

 however, no farther than the foot-hills, but is soon replaced to the east 

 by the closely allied form, the Woodhouse's Jay {A. woodJiousei).''^ 



ALAUDIDiE. 



Eremo'pMla alpestris (Forst.) Boie. — Shore Lark. 



This species* is common over nearly the whole of the area under con- 

 sideration, and as my own limited experience does not vary from that 

 of Mr. Eidgway's I shall give his remarks entire : " No locality is too 

 barren for it, but, on the contrary, it seems to fancy best the most dry and 

 desert tracts, where it is often the only bird to be seen over miles of 

 country, except an occasional dove [Zenaidura carolinensis), or a solitary 

 raven seen at wide intervals. JSTeither does the altitude appear to alfect 

 its distribution, except so far as the character of the ground is modiiied, 

 since we saw them in July and August on the very summit of the Euby 

 Mountains, at an altitude of about 11,000 feet, the ground being pebbly, 

 with a stunted and scattered growth of bushes. The small, deep-col- 

 ored race known as chrysolwma was the usual form found in summer, 

 but in winter most of these seemed to have migrated southward, their 

 place being taken by flocks from the north, com]30sed of migratory in- 

 dividuals of the races called alpestris 2imi leucolcema, of which the former 

 predominated." 



In reference to the arid regions of the southern jDortion of the State I 

 can say that it was rather uncommon, but upon any of the higher eleva- 

 tions upon the sides of which were any moist spots, or springs furnishing 

 sufficient moisture for the growth of a varied flora, this species was al- 

 ways to be found in greater abundance. In the Colorado Valley none 

 were found exceiDting near the mouth of Virgin Eiver. Dr. Cooper 

 states that he " saw these birds in considerable flocks about Fort Mo- 



* U. alpestris, var. leueoloema, Coues, represents the pale variety (or race), which 

 breeds on the interior plains, while variety chrysolcema is smaller and brighter, and oc- 

 curs in the southwestern regions into Mexico, 



