92 Bird - Lore 



is a closely related form of our northern Blue Jay, the former is a representa- 

 tive of the Aphelocotna californica group of Jays of the western United States. 

 Reference to the plate will show how closely it resembles the California Jay, 

 nevertheless its range is separated from that of the nearest race of that species 

 (Texas Jay) by no less than i,ooo miles. The occurrence in south central 

 Florida of the Burrowing Owl presents a similar and equally puzzling prob- 

 lem in distribution. 



California Jay {Aphelocotna californica californica) . In juvenal (nestling) 

 plumage the crown and sides of the head are grayish brown, the back somewhat 

 paler with no tinge of blue, the white line over the eye of the adult is obscure 

 or almost wanting, the breast-band is faint dusky and the streaked appearance 

 of the throat is barely suggested. At the post-juvenal molt the tail and wing- 

 quills are retained, the balance of the plumage molted when the bird acquires 

 a plumage similar to that of the adult; and thereafter there is no essential change 

 in its appearance. 



In slightly differentiated forms the California Jay is found throughout the 

 greater part of the western United States and southward into Mexico, Since 

 it is non-migratory, only one form may be expected to occur in a given locality, 

 and the various forms may be better identified by the locality in which they are 

 found than by the characters on which they are based. The student is there- 

 fore referred to Dr. Oberholser's statement of the ranges of the various races in 

 the preceding paper. 



Santa Cruz Jay {Aphelocotna insular is). This is a closely related, dark form 

 of the California Jay inhabiting Santa Cruz Island of the Santa Barbara 

 group. If its range met that of the mainland form the two would doubtless 

 intergrade, when the island bird would be ranked as a subspecies, but as the 

 insularity of the bird's home prevents such contact, and as it is sufficiently 

 distinct not to intergrade by individual variation, it is ranked as a full species. 

 Its plumage changes are doubtless similar to those of the California Jay. 



