374 LIFE HISTORIES OP NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



In Colorado most of these birds appear to breed in May, while in northern 

 Arizona well-incubated eggs have been found as late as the first week in June. 

 Incubation lasts about sixteen days, both parents probably assisting; and I think 

 that but one brood is raised in a season. The number of eggs laid to a set varies 

 from three to six, usually four or five. The ground color of these eggs is a dirty 

 pea green or a pale sage green; they are sparingly spotted and flecked over the 

 entire surface with irregular markings of ferruginous brown, tawny, and laven- 

 der, these being usually heaviest about the larger end of the egg, but nowhere so 

 abundant as to hide the ground color. The shell is compact, rather smooth, and 

 but slightly glossy. They vary in shape from ovate or short ovate to elongate 

 ovate. 



The average measurement of twenty -two eggs in the United States National 

 Museum collection is 27.57 by 20.09 millimetres, or about 1.09 by 0.79 inches. 

 The largest egg measures 29.46 by 20.32 miUimetres, or 1.16 by 0.80 inches; 

 the smallest, 25.40 by 19.81 millimetres, or 1 by 0.78 inch. 



The type specimen. No. 20359 (PI. 5, Fig. 14), Bendire collection, from a 

 set of six eggs, was taken by Mr. Charles E. Aiken, in El Paso County, Colo- 

 rado, on May 18, 1874, and represents an average marked egg of this species. 



147. Aphelocoma californica (Vigors). 



CALIFORNIA JAY. 



Oarrulus californicus Vigors, Zoology Beechey's Voyage, 1839, 21, PI. V. 

 A[phelocoma] californica Cabanis, Museum Heineanum, I, October 15, 1851, 221. 

 (B 437, C 2366, R 293, C 356, U 481.) 



Geographical range: Pacific Coast regions; from northern Lower California 

 north through California (excepting southeastern parts), western Oregon, to southwestern 

 Washington; east to and including the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, in California 

 and western Nevada, and the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains, in Oregon. 



The California Jay is a common resident in suitable localities throughout 

 the greater portion of its range, its favorite haunts being the oak-covered foothill 

 regions of the higher mountains, the brush-covered sides of the canyons leading 

 into these, and the slu'ubbery along water courses. It avoids the extensive pine 

 forests, and is rarely met with in such localities, excepting along their borders. 

 In summer it has been found at altitudes of from 6,000 to 8,000 feet, but it is 

 much more common in the lower agricultural districts and the oak belt. Where 

 these trees are abundant the California Jay is sure to be also present. 



Mr. A. W. Anthony found it common in the vicinity of Ensenada, in Lower 

 California, which marks about the southern limit of its habitat. Its eastern 

 range terminates along the eastern slopes of the Siei-ra Nevadas, where it is only 

 found in isolated localities, and it was not observed in any of the desert ranges 

 to the east of these mountains by Dr. Merriam's exploring parties. Mr. Robert 

 Ridgway reports it as quite common in the vicinity of Carson City, Nevada. 



