382 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Lieutenant Benson, United States Army, found them breeding abundantly 

 in the vicinity of Fort Huachuca, Arizona, during April and May, 1887. All of 

 the nests taken by him, some thirty in number, were placed in oaks, from 12 to 

 30 feet from the ground, usually about 15 feet high, being generally only moder- 

 ately concealed. His first set was found on April 6, and the majority were 

 taken in this month; his latest record is May 10. The breeding season seems 

 to be at its height during the latter half of April. But one brood appears to be 

 raised in a season, and incubation lasts about sixteen days. The number of 

 eggs to a set varies from four to seven; sets of four eggs are more frequently 

 found than larger ones, and in thirty-four sets now before me there is only one 

 of six and one of seven eggs. These differ from all the known eggs of this 

 family found within the United States by being unspotted. They are glaucous 

 green in color, and the majority are much more glossy than Jays' eggs gen- 

 erally are. 



In the fine series of specimens, one hundred and thirty-six in number, 

 nearly all collected by Lieutenant Benson, I can not find a single one that shows 

 any trace of markings; they are all perfectly immaculate. The shell is smooth 

 and compact; in shape they vary from ovate to elongate ovate. 



The average measurement of this series is 30.28 by 22.26 millimetres, or 

 about 1.19 by 0.88 inches. The largest egg measures 35.05 by 22.10 millimetres, 

 or 1.38 by 0.87 inches; the smallest 26.92 by 21.59 millimetres, or 1.06 by 0.85 

 inches. 



The type specimens, Nos. 22969 and 22997 (PL 5, Figs. 19 and 20), from 

 sets of four and five eggs, respectively, were collected by Lieut. H. C. Benson, 

 Fourth Cavalry, United States Army, near Fort Huachuca, Arizona, on April 15, 

 and 27, 1887, and represent average types of this species. 



152. Aphelocoma cyanotis Ridgway. 



BLUE-EARED JAY. 



Aphelocoma cyanotis Ridgway, Manual of North American Birds, 1887, 357. 

 (B — , C — , R — , O — , U 480.1.) 



Geographical range: Eastern Mexico, from the States of Puebla, Mexico, and 

 San Luis Potosi north to western Texas. 



The Blue-eared Jay, a recent addition to our fauna, was first described by 

 Mr. Robert Ridgway from a specimen now in the United States National Museum 

 collection, taken by Mr. John Taylor, in September, 1836, in Mexico (exact 

 locality not known), and it was only rediscovered a few years ago by the late 

 Mr. P. L. Jouy, near Charcas, Puebla, Mexico, which remains as yet the most 

 southern point of its known range. Since then the United States Department 

 of Agriculture has received a number of specimens from different localities in 

 the States of Mexico and San Luis Potosi, where it appears to be common, and 

 also three from Paisano, Brewster County, Texas, a station on the Southern 



