JAY— WOODPECKER- GNATCATCHERS—CH AT— DIPPERS— GUILLEMOTS. 



139 



They were then moulting, and the parti-colored flocks of young 

 and old were quite unsuspicious, and easily approached. During 

 the breeding season, we found them exceedingly shy and difficult 

 to procure, and were unsuccessful in our efforts to discover their 

 nests." 



PLATE XCIII. 



California Jay. (Cyanocitta calif ornica.) 



Fig. i. 



Cooper says : " In California, this Jay is one of the most com- 

 mon and conspicuous birds, frequenting every locality where oaks 

 grow, even close to the towns ; entering gardens, and audaciously 

 pilfering fruit, etc., before the owner's eyes. They show the usual 

 cunning of the tribe, and, if alarmed, become very quiet, conceal- 

 ing themselves in the thick foliage, so as to be found with difficulty. 

 They are usually, however, noisy and fearless, their odd cries, 

 grotesque actions, and bright plumage making them rather favor- 

 ite guests, in spite of their petty depredations. They live chiefly 

 on small acorns and insects, but, like other Jays, are decidedly 

 omnivorous. Their cries are less harsh and loud than those of 

 Steller's Jay, and they have also some talent for mimicry, besides 

 notes to express their various wants and ideas." 



They build throughout the western parts of California, con- 

 structing a large and strong nest of twigs, roots, grass, etc., in a 

 low tree or bush, and laying about five eggs, dark green, with 

 numerous pale brown blotches and spots, measuring 1.04x1.80 

 inch. 



Harris' Woodpecker. (Picus harrisii.) 



Fig. 2. 



This species, with the exception that it has fewer white wing- 

 spots, is like the common Hairy Woodpecker, of Eastern North 

 America. The habitat of this bird is from the Pacific Coast to the 

 eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. The cry of this species is 

 somewhat louder than that of the other small Woodpeckers. Its 

 food consists of insects and their larvse — also, fruits and berries. 



Black-tailed or Black-headed Gnatcatcher. Black-tailed Flycatcher. 



(Polio-ptila melanurai) 



Fig. 3- 



This species is usually met with in the southwestern portion of the 

 United States, in the valley of the Rio Grande and Gila. Very 

 little is known regarding its habits. Their notes are said to be 

 somewhat similar to the song of the Wren, and also like that of 

 the Swallow. 



Plumbeous Gnatcatcher. 



Lead-colored Flycatoher. 



plumbea.') 



Fig. 4. 



(Polioptila 



This bird is to be found in the valley of Colorado and Gila, 

 differs from the last-named by being without the black crown, 

 is also larger, and its color is a duller leaden gray. 



Stone Chat, Fallow Chat, or Wheatear. (JSaxicola cenanthe.) 



Fig. 5- 



This Chat is met with on the Atlantic Coast, as a stray bird from 

 Europe, by way of Greenland, and also on the north Pacific Coast, 



from Asia. "The Wheatear," says Brehm, "both dwells and 

 breeds in the British Islands and Lapland. In Asia, it is met with 

 in corresponding latitudes. Occasionally it appears in the upper 

 provinces of India, and in many parts of Africa." 



Water Ouzel. American Dipper. Dipper. (Cinclus mexicanus.) 



Fig. 6. 



This plainly-plumaged and interesting species is to be met with 

 along the clear mountain streams, from British America to Mexico, 

 and west to the Pacific. 'About sunset," says Cooper, " I heard 

 the male singing very melodiously, as it sat on one of its favorite 

 rocks, in the middle of the foaming rapids, making its delightful 

 melody heard for quite a long distance above the sound of the roar- 

 ing waters." And again the same author says: "The strange 

 habits of this bird make it a very remarkable object, and it attracts 

 much attention wherever found. It may be said to combine the 

 form of a Sandpiper, the song of a Canary, and the aquatic habits 

 of a Duck. Its food consists almost wholly of aquatic insects, and 

 these it pursues under water, walking and flying with perfect ease 

 beneath a depth of several feet of water. When they dive below, 

 there is a film of air surrounding them, which looks like silver, 

 and may assist in supporting respiration. They do not, however, 

 swim on the surface, but always dive, and sometimes fly across 

 streams beneath the surface. They prefer clear, noisy mountain 

 streams ; but I have seen one on the summit of the Sierra Nevada, 

 eating insects along the shore of a calm mountain lake. Their 

 flight is rapid and direct, like that of a Sandpiper ; and when they 

 alight, it is always on a rock or log, when they jerk their tails 

 much like that bird." 



Marbled Guillemot, or IMurselet. (Brachyrhamfihus marmoratus.) 



Fig. 7. 



This pretty little sea bird is said to be numerous on the Pacific, 

 to California. According to Dr. Brehm, " Guillemots principally 

 inhabit northern latitudes, at certain seasons appearing in more 

 temperate climates. Except during the period of incubation, they 

 seldom visit the land, but pass their whole time upon the ocean. 

 They are excellent swimmers, and dive well, using both feet and 

 wings for their propulsion, so that their movements beneath the 

 water are performed with admirable rapidity and precision. Their 

 flight is rapid, but hurried, and, owing to the shortness of their 

 wings, whirring and noisy. So numerous are these birds in the 

 neighborhood of their breeding-places, that (more especially if it 

 be a rock of pyramidal form) they resemble, at a distance, a great 

 swarm of bees." 



Cassin's Guillemot. Aleutian Auk. {Ptychorhamphus aleuticus.) 



Fig. 8. 



This rare and striking little species is found on the western and 

 northwestern coast of America, and was first added to our fauna 

 by the late Dr. William Gamble. " The little Auk," says Brehm, 

 "must certainly be regarded as the gayest and briskest member 

 of its family. When visiting the shore, it steps nimbly along on 

 its toes, vanishes from observation among the stones, or creeps like 

 a mouse into crevices in the rocks. When out at sea, it swims and 

 dives with wonderful alacrity, remaining under water for even more 

 than a couple of minutes. During the breeding season, the little 

 Auks congregate in immense numbers in the vicinity of the islands 

 on which the eggs are to be deposited. Each pair seeks a suitable 

 spot among the stones that have fallen upon the beach, and then 

 la}'s a single egg of about the same size as that of the Pigeon, and 

 of a whitish color, slightly tinged with blue." 



