258 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Norris has eggs that measure as large as 1.57 x .94 and as small as 1.31 

 X .91. An average egg measures 1.32 x .89. 



476. Plea nuttalli Aud [287.] 



Yellow-billed Magpie. 



Hab. California 



The Yellow-billed Magpie is confined exclusively to California, 

 where it breeds abundantly ; and it begins nesting about the first of 

 April. Its general habits are like those of P- hudsonica^ and the nest 

 is similarly constructed. 



The eggs range from five to nine in number, usually six or seven. 

 They are of a light drab, so thickly marked with fine cloudings of an 

 obscure lavender color as nearly to conceal the ground, and to give the 

 egg the appearance of an almost violet-brown. A set of six eggs, col- 

 lected in Wheeler Canon, near Santa Paula, California, exhibit the fol- 

 lowing dimensions : 1. 31 X. 89, 1. 28 X. 89, 1. 31 X. 89, 1. 32 x. 89, 1. 30 X. 88, 

 1.28 X .90. A set of six eggs in my cabinet, taken from a nest situated 

 twenty feet fiom the ground in an oak tree, near Santa Barba, Califor- 

 nia, April 10, 1887, offers the following sizes: 1.30X.85, 1.29X.84, 1.29 

 X.90, 1.30X.82, 1.28X.81, 1.25X.86. 



477. Cyanocitta cristata (Linn.) [289.J 



Blue Jay. 



Hab. Eastern North Aineriv::i uxcept Florida, west to the Plains, north to the Fur Countries. 



The well-known Blue Jay is abundant in Eastern North America, 

 where it breeds in the latter part of April, in May and June, according 

 to locality. He is a conspicuous member of a family of questionable 

 character and, as in the case of the Magpie, unjust prejudices have 

 doubtless done much to brand him a profligate. His fine personal dress, 

 and noisy, boisterous habits, only serve to make him the more promi- 

 nent as a rowdy full of cunning traits. Yet no observer will dispute 

 that the sagacity often evinced by this bird — his forethought, intelli- 

 gence and sensibility, are strongly akin to reason ; and according to the 

 treatment received from man he is justly either shy or wary, confiding 

 or familiar. 



The nest of the Blue Jay is built in the branches of a lonely forest 

 tree, in the trees of orchards, in those bordering quiet roadways or 

 lanes, and, where the bird is not molested it is commonly placed not 

 far from dwelling-houses, in trees or bushes. The nest is large, and 

 the materials used are various — twigs, leaves, roots and vegetable fibres 

 rudely but strongly interwoven ; often paper, rags, wool and yarn enter 

 into its composition. The eggs are four or five in number, olive-brown 

 or olive-drab, thickly spotted with dark olive-brown. In some speci- 

 mens the ground-color is light or dark green, similar to that in the 



