486 LAND BIRDS 



Geographical Distribution: Coast of California, from Monterey to the 

 Columbia Eiver east in Oregon to the Cascades. 



Breeding Range : Transition zone south through humid coast belt to 

 Monterey. 



Breeding Season: April and May (a few rare records in March). 



Nest: Usually placed in fir trees 30 to 55 feet from the ground, some- 

 times in other trees or vines ; made of twigs, moss, and dry grass, 

 well cemented with mud ; lined with fine roots. 



Eggs : 3 to 5 ; dull, pale, bluish green, spotted and blotched over the 

 entire surface with brown and lavender. Size 1.24 X 0.92. 



" There are many handsome blue jays, but the stelleri 

 in its numerous forms, with its blue body and high crest, 

 is one of the lords of the race, fittingly associated with 

 the noblest forests of the West " (Mrs. Bailey). 



The Steller Jay is variously subdivided in California. 

 The form known as the Coast Jay is usually resident 

 wherever found, and is common in California along the 

 coast from Oregon as far as the southern boundary of 

 Monterey County. In the vicinity of Monterey and 

 Pacific Grove these Jays are very abundant. Some one 

 has called them the "policemen of the woods," but brig- 

 ands would be a much more fitting cognomen. Flying in 

 bands with jolly good fellowship, they are the torment 

 of the more peaceful woodland dwellers. Nowhere are 

 they welcome. The appearance of one is the signal for 

 the more fearless of the small birds to sally out en masse 

 and drive them away ; for right well these helpless wood- 

 folk know that here is a monster who will, if he can, 

 devour both their eggs and their nestlings. His mim- 

 icry of the notes of various birds of prey strikes terror to 

 the mother birds brooding the young and to the father 

 on guard near by. Small wonder he is hated. 



