AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



229 



CLARKE NUTCRACKER, 



A- O. U. No. 491. 



(Nucipagra cloumbiana.) 



One of the commonest and most interesting birds met with in the 

 solitudes of the pine-forests of the upper peaks of the Rocky Mountain 

 ranges, is Nucifraga columbiana, or the Clarke Nutcracker. 



His plumage attracts attention at once; " the body is ash-gray, whiter 

 on forehead and chin; wings black with white patch on secondines tail 

 with middle feathers black, outer ones white." (Wils). 



Whilst spending several weeks in the spruce forests at the edge of 

 timber-line on the western slope of Pike's Peak, a year or two ago, I 

 had excellent opportunities for studying these interesting birds. 

 Amongst the miners they are known as Fremont's bird, and included 

 also with a number of Jays, as "Camprobber." The Rocky Mountain 

 Jay is the true Camp-robber. The Nut-cracker is of an investigating turn 



Photo from life by W. W. Arnold. 

 CLARKE NUTCRACKER. 



