GYMNOKITTA CYANOCEPHALA, BLUE CROW. 209 



The following interesting passages oeouv in Mr. Trippe's Manuscriiits : 

 "At Idaho ypriugs, in Colorado, Clarke's Crow is by no means rare; 

 nearly, or quite, resident ; breeds. Bight or ten years ago, as I have 

 been "informed by old residents, this bird was exceedingly numerous, 

 and during winter, very tamo and bold, approaching close to the cabins 

 and homes of the settlers, and devouring everything left exposed to 

 its voracity. At present it is seldom seen in numbers; but singly, or 

 in small parties, is not uncommon from about 9,000 feet up to timber- 

 line during the warmer months, descending to the lower valleys, and 

 probably to the foot-hills, during the depth of winter, a few remaining 

 in the county throughout the year. As soon as the weather has com- 

 menced to moderate a little, they begin ascending again, working up- 

 ward in advance of all other birds. 



"The habits of Clarke's Crow are well indicated by its name, for they 

 are a compound of those of the Woodpecker and Crow. At times it 

 will alight on a dead limb, and hammer it precisely as a Woodpecker 

 does, the loud rattling being audible at a great distance ; at others, its 

 actions are so similar to that of a Crow, that one might readily mistake 

 it lor a smaller species of that bird were it not for its colors. It fre- 

 quently alights on the top of a tree, and utters its hoarse notes to call 

 or alarm its companions, constantly looking around in every direction 

 to detect any approaching danger, just as the Crow is in the habit of 

 doing. It is rather a shy bird than otherwise, yet not so wild but that 

 it may be shot by using a little caution in approaching it. Its flight is 

 bold and strong, with rather quick and rapid strokes, like the Blue 

 Jay's ; at times, after flying a little way from its perch, it will sail on 

 its wings in a wide circle, returning to the same tree. Near timber- 

 line I have seen dozens of them all performing this manoeuvre together, 

 sometiujes flying hundreds of feet above the trees and returning to them 

 when tired. It occasionally visits the slaughter-houses, and, like a true 

 Crow, seems to be quite omnivorous, cramming its hungry maw with 

 everything that will satisfy its voracious appetite In spring, when 

 other food is scarce, it even attacks the cones and buds of Pinus ponder- 

 osa and P.contorta; and nothing seems to come amiss. A tame one 

 which I saw preferred raw meat, but ate anything given to it with ap- 

 parent relish. 



"Clarke's Crow probably breeds very early, a,s young birds are able 

 to fly in the middle of May ; its nest, however, I was never able to iind^ 

 nor even gain any idea of where it is placed. The young are cared for 

 by the parents a short time after leaving the nest, and are then left to 

 shift for themselves — hence, as the first brood is hatched so early, they 

 may raise a second ; but I never saw any young birds after the latter 

 part of June, and am inclined to think, therefore, that they raise but a 

 single brood. Of notes, this bird possesses several, all of which are 

 harsh, grating, and crow-like, many being quite loud. It is tamed as 

 easily as the Crow or Kaven, and soon becomes quite as familiar and 

 impudent, showing all the propensities to theft and mischief that mark 

 those birtls." 



GYMNOKITTA CYAaSTOCEPHALA, (Maxim.) Bp. 

 Blue Crow; Cassiii's Jay; Maximilian's Jay. 



Gymiiorliinus cyanoceplialus, Maxim., Eeise, ii, li^41, '21. 



Gymvolcitia ci/mwccpliala, Bp., Consp. i, 1850, 382. — Uass., B. Cal. and Tex. i, ISfU, 1€5, pL 



28.— Nkwb., P E. E. Eep. vi, 1857, 83.— Maxim., J. f. 0. vi, 1858, 193.— Bd., B. 



N. A. 18.')8, 574.— Kenn., P. K. E. Eep. x, 1859, pt. iv, 3-'.- CoCEs, Pr. Phila.. 



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