210 



GYMNOKITTA CYANOCEPHALA, BLUE CROW. 



Acad. 1806, 91 ; Ibis, 1872, 152 (biography) ; Key, 1672, 163.— Coop., B. Cal. i, 

 1870, 292,— Aiken. Pr. Bost. Soc. xv, 1872, 204 (Wyoming).— B. B. & R., N. A. B. 

 ii, 18r4, 260, pi. 36, f. 2. 



Psilorhinus cyanocephalus, Gray, Genera of Birds. 



Nucifraga (Gymnokitta) cijanocephala, Gray, Hand-list, ii. 1870, 10, No. 6166. 



Cyanoceplmlus wiecli, Bp., Oss. Stat. Zool. Eur. Vert. l.-<40-'41, 1842 ; see Ibis, 1873, 103. 



Cijanocorax cassini, McCaix, Pr. Phila. Acad, v, 1851, 216. 



-Hiifc.- Western United States, from the eastern foot-hills and spurs of the Rocky 

 Mountains to the opposite slopes of the Cascade and Coast Ranges. 



List of specimens. 



Not obtained by Lieutenant Warren's Expedition. 

 Later Expeditions. — 59860-3, Wyoming. 



The following account, like that of Clarke's Crow, is reproduced, in 

 substance, from my article in the " Ibis," as above quoted : 



For many years this species was considered a rarity, to be highly 

 prized, and may still remain among the desiderata of many or most 

 European collectors; but of late a great many specimens have been 

 gathered, notably in California, by the late Captain John Peilner, and 

 in Arizona, by myself. Prince Maximilian's original examples are 

 stated to have come from one of the tiibutaries of the Upper Missouri, 

 which locality, if not beyond the bird's ordinary range, is certainly far 

 from its centre of abundance. Dr. Hayden does not appear to have 

 met with it in that region, and probably Maximilian's quotation indi- 

 cates nearly the northeastern limit of the species, which would thus 

 pro%'e very nearly coincident with that of Clarke's Crow. Colonel McCall 

 found his Cyanocorax cassini abundant near Santa F6, New Mexico; Dr. 

 Kennerly met with great numbers near San Miguel and at Fort Web- 

 ster, in the same Territory; and Captain Feilner procured his fine suite 

 of specimens at Fort Crook, Califonia. Dr. J. S. Newberry is our princi- 

 pal Oregon reference. I have seen no Washington Territory record ; but 

 data are to be anticipated from this quarter, corresponding to those 

 respecting Clarke's Crow. In the matter of altitude, the present species, 

 has not been proven to occur so high up as Clarke's Crow has ; but the 

 evidence is only negative. It breeds at or near its limit of altitude, 

 descending in winter to the lower border of the pine-belt, if not a little 

 beyond. 



At Fort Whipple, in Arizona, where my observations were made, the 

 bird may be considered a permanent resident. Thougli we did not 

 observe it breeding in the immediate vicinity, we found newly-fledged 

 youu^ in the neighboring higher mountains, showing that it nests 

 there. Like most of its tribe — in fact, like most birds largely subsist- 

 ing on varied animal and vegetable substances — it is not strictly 

 migratory, except, perhaps, at its highest point of disi>ersion. A 

 descent of a few thousand feet from mountain tops appears to answer 

 the purpose of the southward journeying most migratory species per- 

 form, as far as food is concerned, while its hardy nature enables it to 

 endure the rigors of winter in regions frequently snow-bound. It feeds 

 principally upon juniper-berries aud pine-seeds; also upon acorns, and 

 probably other small, hard fruit. 



Notwithstanding its essentially corvine form, the habits of this bird, 

 like its colors, are rather those of Jays. It is a garrulous and vocifer- 

 ous creature, of various and curiously modulated chattering notes 

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