232 



North American Birds Eggs. 



48 I a. Xantus Jay. Apliclocoma californi'u hjjpolciira. 



Ranfie. — Lower California. 



Tlie habits and nests and eggs of tliis lighter colored variety do not differ 

 from those of the California Jay. 



48 1b. Belding Jay. Aphetoromii caJiiornU-n ohanira. 



Range. — San Pedro Martir Mts., Lower California. 

 A darker variety of the t-alifurnia Jay, whose nesting habits wil 

 any essential particular. 



not differ in 



y 



48 1.1. Santa Cruz Jay. 





f<irt'enish blue, J 



Aphrloroma iiisulnris. 

 Kange.— Santa Cruz Island, California. 

 This species is the largest and darkest colored 

 bird of the genus AplieloroiiKi. It is said to be a very 

 aliundant species on the island frum which it takes its 

 name, and to have the habits and traits common to all 

 the members of the Jay family. The nesting habits are 

 tlie same as those of the <ithers, but the eggs are slightly 

 larger, averaging 1.15 x .H5. The one figured is from a 

 set of three in the collection of John Lewis Chilas, taken 

 by R. H. Beck on May 10, 181)7. 



I Kiibin blue. I 



482. Arizona Jay. Aphclnrnma fiicherii (trizoiiH'. 



Range.— Arizona and southwestern New Mexico south into Mex 



This species differs from the preceding ones in having 

 the upperparts of a uniform bluish, and in being without 

 streaks on the underparts, and with no dusky ear patches. 

 These birds, while they have the usual Jay traits, are 

 more sociable during the breeding season and often 

 small companies of from two to ten pairs nest in the 

 same clump of trees, placing their nests in crotches at 

 low elevations. The nests are made of small sticks and 

 rootlets and generally lined with finer rootlets or horse 

 hair. The eggs are a bright robin blue col(jr, unmarked 

 and number from three to six. Size l.i^O x .85. 



482a. Couch Jay. A. s. muchi. 



Range.— Eastern Mexico, north to western Texas. 



483. Green Jay. Xanihoura luxiuisa glaurrsccns. 



Range.— Northeastern Mexico and the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. 



; This handsome species has a bright blue crown and 



patches under the eyes, the rest of the upper parts being 

 greenish; throat and sides of head black, underparts green"- 

 ish white. This gaudy and noisy bird has all the haliits 

 common to other Jays including that of robbing l)irds' 

 nests. They build generally in tangled thickets or low 

 bushes, placing their nests at a low elevation and making 

 them of twigs, weeds, moss, etc., lined with tine rootlets. 

 Their four or five eggs, which are laid during April or May, 

 are grayish buff in color, spotted with various shades of 

 brown and lavender gray. Size 1.20 x .85. 



[Grayish buff 



