78 THE CONDOR Vol. X 



many kinds; and those little dark gray moths that cling so cunningly to bark of 

 various trees during the day— almost invisible to human eyes, but easy forage for 

 the Arizona Jay. How well it assists in Uncle Sam's reforesting problem is ap- 

 parent, when a steep hillside, devoid of arborescent growth, is watched closely 

 during acorn season, provided it is the one selected by the Jays for their winter 

 granary. The number of birds you would see journeying back and forth in the 

 course of a few days might cause a mental convulsion, let alone attempting to 

 count the acorns deposited. The ground universally selected contains much rub- 

 ble, running to small fragments, say the size of a man's fist. Generally the acorns 

 (for several are often deposited in one spot) are pushed under the side of the stone 

 nearest to or facing the ravine; a wise provision for the birds' future, and a fortunate 

 one for the possible future oak, as it guards against washing out in times of hea\T 

 rain; likewise conserving moisture in the months of drouth. The spring and sum- 

 mer of the present year (1907) were dry, very dry; yet in many slopes seedling oaks 

 were growing vigorously. No parent oak in the vicinity grew at a higher level; 

 and as the acorn is quite too heavy to be transported by wind action — at least up- 

 ward—one may figure out conclusions. 



Perhaps the Woodhouse Jay {Aphelocoma tvoodhoiisei) is resident, but I am 

 convinced that, if so, they number but a fraction, when compared to the por- 

 tion of the species that migrate here; and it was the visiting body that came to my 

 attention. None were seen until September 21; next day found it fully repre- 

 sented; so by October 1 a comparative estimate of numbers would put this species 

 and ^4. 5. arizonce on equal basis, with balance of power held by the I^ong-crested 

 Jay (yCyaiiocitta stelleri diademata) which held forth in the pine zone until the end 

 of September. After that, a few adventurous individuals wandered down as low 

 as 4500 feet. 



Barren was the opportunity for the study of water birds. In addition to an 

 infrequent visit by Killdeers {Oxyechtis vociferiis), but a single kind came to be 

 noted: A flock of eleven Black-crowned Night Herons ^Nycticorax uydicorax 

 ncsvitis) spending the morning of September 10 in a deep narrow canyon near the 

 4000 foot level. 



Benson, Arizona. 



SOME NOTES ON THE GREAT BEUE HERON 



By H. W. CARRIGER and J. R. PEMBERTON 



FOR a good many years a large number of Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) 

 occupied a large nesting colony upon the tops of some eucalyptus trees at 

 Redwood City, California. Thirsting for knowledge, and particularly bird- 

 egg knowledge, the Redwood small boy made yearly trips to the heronry to study 

 the inhabitants thereof, and so vigorous and attentive were their studies that the 

 proud and classy Blue Herons declared a moving day, and the spring of 1900 found 

 the once fruitful Mecca of the bird-egg boys a dreary and lonesome spot, except 

 for a bunch of English Sparrows, who took possession of the old nests. 



Mr. Chase L^ittlejohn, well known to most Cooper Club members, often won- 

 dered where the colony had moved to because the birds were as numerous as ever 

 upon the marsh land between Redwood and the Bay. One day in 1902, Mr. Eit- 



