222 PEEISOREUS CANADENSIS VAE. CAPITALIS. 



obtained above timber-line, that are truly arctic in their summer dis- 

 tribution * * * Wilsonia pusilla, Zonotriclda Uucophrys, and Melus- 

 piza lincolni, were nowhere more abundant than among the dwarfed wil- 

 lows and birches just above the general limit of the trees." All the 

 notes of this paragraph refer to var. capitalis. 



In Minnesota, Mr. Trippe ascertained that this bird breeds in the 

 dense tamarack swamps. It is also known to breed in Maine. With 

 these exceptions, the United States record east of the Eocky Mountains, 

 and south of Northern New England, is entirely of straggling birds, 

 rare and only in winter, saving only Mr. Lawrence's note of an acciden- 

 tal summer occurrence. But Mr. Merriam informs me that it breeds in 

 the Adirondacks. In Colorado, says Jdr. Trippe, the Canada Jay [var. 

 capitalis] is abundant and resident, breeding. " I have never," he con- 

 tinues, " seen the Canada Jay below 9,000 feet, even in mid- winter ; and 

 but rarely below 9,500 or 10,000. During the warmer months it keeps 

 within a few hundred feet of timber-line, frequenting the darkest forests 

 of spruce, and occasionally flying a little way above the trees. It is 

 quite tame, coming about mining camps to pick up whatever is htrowu 

 out in the way of food, and evincing much of the curiosity that is char- 

 acteristic of the family. In winter, its supply of food is very precarious, 

 and it is often rediiced to mere siiin and bones ; at such times it will 

 frequently weigh no more than a plump Snow-bird or Sparrow, and 

 undoubtedly starves to death sometimes. During the latter part of 

 autumn, its hoarse croaking is almost the only sound to be heard in the 

 cold sombre forests that lie near timber-line." 



The egg of Perisoreus is altogether different from that of Cyanunis 

 and Gyanocitia^ much nearer Pica, but still peculiar. The ground is 

 grayish-white, marked all over, but nearly always most heavily at the 

 but, or in a wreath around it, with several shades of a dark neutral 

 tint, mixed usually with some olive-brown spots. The markings in sev- 

 eral specimens before me are all quite fine, even those that are conflu- 

 ent at the larger end. Size, 1.20 by 0.70. The nest is built on the 

 limbs of trees, of hay, feathers, &c. 



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