Wayne: Birds op South Carolina. 105 



the Birds of Georgia, 1 says: 



The Arctic race of the Horned Lark {alpestris), although noted by Catesby 

 (Nat. Hist. Carolina, I, 1731, 32, PI. XXXII) as frequenting the sand-hills along 

 the shore of South Carolina in winter, has within a few years been recorded as a 

 novelty from that coast. (A. T. Wayne, Auk, X, 1893, 205.) 



As it is exceedingly difficult to determine the various forms of 

 the Horned Larks when specimens are in the hand, it necessarily 

 follows that it is impossible to identify most of the races by a 

 colored drawing, and this is very difficult to accomplish posi- 

 tively in the forms, Otocoris alpestris et praticola. The capture of 

 true alpestris by the writer remains the only well authenticated 

 record for the State. 



In North America, the Horned Lark breeds in Newfoundland, 

 Labrador, and the Hudson Bay region. 



FAMILY CORVIDjE: CROWS, JAYS, ETC. 



182. Cyanocitta cristata (Linn.). Blue Jay. 



Although this well-known bird is a permanent resident, it is 

 most abundant in autumn and winter. It breeds regularly, but 

 is, in my experience, very locally distributed during the breeding 

 season. This may be due to the fact that the birds are silent at 

 that season and hence easily overlooked, but I have noticed that 

 where the live oak is absent this species is not found, and where 

 this beautiful tree is abundant isolated pairs are to be found 

 breeding. The nest, which is generally placed on a horizontal 

 branch of a live oak from twenty to fifty feet from the ground, is 

 composed of small sticks and is lined with rootlets and pine needles. 

 Mud comprised a large part of the material used in the construc- 

 tion of all the nests that I have examined, taken on or near the 

 coast. The eggs are generally four in number, and are laid be- 

 tween April 25 and May 4. They are olive or olive brown, spotted 

 with a darker shade, and measure 1.10X-80. Two broods are 

 raised each season. 



The Blue Jay is omnivorous, but its principal food in autumn 

 and winter appears to be acorns. 



This familiar species is found from northern Florida to Nova 

 Scotia, and southern Labrador. 



183. Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L. Brehm. Crow. 



Much has been written by numerous authors in regard to the 



'Auk, XIII, 1896, 210. 



