280 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Genus NUCIFRAGA Brisson. 



Nucifraga Bkisson, Orn., ii, 1760, 58. (Type, Corvus caryocatactes Linnaeus.) 

 Caryocatactes Cuviee, R6gne Anim., i, 1817, 399. (Type, Corvus caryocatactes 



Linnaeus. ) 

 Picicorvus Bonaparte, Consp. Av., i. May 6, 1850, 384. (Type, Corvm colum- 



iianus Wilson. ) 



Small Corvinae (wing less than 200 mm.) with under tail-coverts and 

 part of rectrices white, the body uniform gray, or else brown spotted 

 or streaked with white. 



Bill about as long as head (or a little longer or shorter), very varia- 

 ble as to relative length and thickness, the basal depth from one-third 

 to nearly one -half the length of exposed culmen; basal width of mandi- 

 ble (at malar antise) about equal to basal depth, but anterior to nostril 

 the bill decidedly compressed; culmen varying from nearly straight to 

 decidedly convex; gonys also variable, sometimes decidedly convex 

 and ascending terminally, sometimes with terminal portion slightly 

 concave; commissure nearly straight or slightly arched. Nostril cir- 

 cular, hidden by well-developed antrorse tufts. Rictal bristles distinct. 

 Wing long, the tip well produced (equal to more than one-fourth to 

 nearly one-third the length of wing), rounded; tenth primary much 

 shorter than secondaries, not more (usually less) than one-half as long 

 as ninth; seventh, seventh and sixth, or sixth primaries longest; inner 

 webs of five outer primaries more or less distinctly sinuated. Tail 

 about three-fifths to two-thirds as long as wing, more or less rounded. 

 Tarsus usually shorter than exposed culmen (slightly longer in 

 JV. he?nispila); middle toe, with claw, decidedly shorter than tarsus; 

 lateral toes with claws reaching decidedly beyond base of middle claw; 

 hallux about as long as lateral toes, much stouter, its claw nearly as 

 long as digit. 



Coloration. — Under tail-coverts and more or less of lateral rectrices 

 white; wings black, with or without white markings; head, neck, and 

 body brown, streaked or spotted with white, or else plain gray, 

 becoming white on anterior portion of head. 



Nidification. — Nest in coniferous trees, bulky, open above, com- 

 posed of dry twigs, strips of thin bark, pine needles, etc. Eggs 

 usually 3, pale greenish, more or less speckled or spotted with brown, 

 gray, etc. 



Range. — Boreal coniferous forests of the Palaearctic and western 

 portions of Nearctic Regions. (Four species, only one in America.) 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF NUCIPEA&A. 



a. General color brown, more, or less streaked or spotted with white; secondaries not 

 broadly (if at all) tipped with white; lateral rectrices extensively black at base. 



(Palsearctic species) 

 aa. General color plain brownish gray; secondaries broadly tipped with white; 

 lateral rectrices white for entire length. (Western North America.) 



Kncifraga Columbiana (p. 281) 



