46 MR. GAMBEL ON THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. 



The C. ultramarina, by its greater size, blue colour above, and absence of pectoral 

 band, together with its very different proportions, is easily distinguished from the 

 C. califoriiica, vs^hich is much smaller, has a brown back, a white superciliary line, 

 a dull white throat, and breast surrounded by a collar of blue. 



The G. sordidus, Swains. (Syn. Bds. Mex.) generally quoted as a synonym of the 

 ultramarinus, does not agree very well with it, unless the description were taken 

 from a vouno- bird, in which the tail is irregularly rounded, and the size somewhat 



less. 



The Californian Jay is a very abundant species, and a constant resident. In its 

 actions it is exceedingly restless, and at the same time sprightly and graceful, ever 

 flittincr from tree to tree, uttering a harsh grating jay, jay, and sometimes altering it 

 to kay ic, kay ic. Like all the Jays, they are very fond of scolding, and a troop of 

 them will surround and follow almost any object that attracts their attention, with 

 their teasing disagreeable cries. 



CLEPTES,* Gamh. {Pica, Briss.) 



70. C. HUDsoNicus, (Sabine) Gamb. Common Magpie. 



Corvus Hudsonicus, Sabine. 

 We frequently met with the Magpie on our route from New Mexico to California. 

 It would linger around our camp to pick up the offal, and sometimes boldly steal the 

 meat which was hung on the bushes around. 



71. C. NUTTALLii, (Aud.) Gamb. Nuttall's Magpie. 



IPica Nutlallii, Aud. 



I felt great pleasure on arriving at Santa Barbara in Upper California, to see in 

 its native haunts this distinct and beautiful Magpie, discovered by my friend, the 

 indefatigable naturalist and traveller, after whom it is named ; among others, a just 

 tribute for the invaluable services he has rendered to natural science, during more 

 than thirty years of his life, spent among us, in untiring investigation of the 

 productions of our country. 



In California at least, and where as yet it appears alone to have been found, this 

 Magpie is exceedingly local, being confined, as far as I have observed, to the 

 immediate neighbourhood of Santa Barbara, where, among the beautiful evergreen 

 oaks {Quercus agrifolia) of the vicinity, it is abundant. 



Sprightly and graceful in its movements, it is a favourite with the inhabitants; 

 and when not molested shows considerable confidence, often being seen about the 



*K^lrtT';j5, a thief. 



It may seem presumptuous to alter the name Pica, but if a similar thing is done in other instances, why 

 not in this ? Tyrannula has been rejected by Gray and Gould because there existed a genus Tyrannulus, and 

 those who are interested in the reform of nomenclature, think that a mere diflerence of termination in generic 

 names, is apt to lead to confusion. 



