328 



LAND BIRDS 



California Breeding Range : Higher mountains of Korthern California. 



Breeding Season : March 15 to May 15. 



Nest: Compactly built of fine twigs, interlaced with dry grass, moss, 



and plant iibre ; lined with fine tree moss ; placed usually high up 



in fir trees. 

 Sggs : 4 or 5 ; pearl or greenish gray, spotted and flecked quite evenly 



with lavender and gray. Size l.Oi X 0.79. 



We are accustomed to think of jays as mostly blue, or, 

 at least, having some blue in their plumage, but here is 

 a variety that has not a single blue feather. 



From the tip of his crestless head 





to the 



tip of his long 

 tail he is sober 

 black, white, and 

 brownish gray, 

 and elegant in 

 are his relatives, 

 fronted, and Cali- 

 s o m e one has 

 much more like 

 chickadee. 



Like the chickadee also, he is easily tamed, coming 

 to house or camp for food and becoming so familiar as to 

 be a source of great amusement. It is only necessary 

 to settle oneself quietly and feed him to be overwhelmed 

 with his attentions. Mr. Anthony tells of a funny ex- 

 perience with these birds. He says : " While dressing 

 deer in the thick timber I have been almost covered with 



485. Oregon Jay. 

 ' Not a single Hue /ealAer." 



Nor is he smooth 

 appearance, as 

 the coast, blue- 

 fornia jays. As 

 said, he looks 

 an overgrown 



