326 NESTS AND EOGS OF 



480. 1. BLTJE-EABED JAY. Aplielocoma cyajiotis Ridgw. Geog. Dist. — 

 Northern Mexico, ranging northward into Western Texas. 



' The Blue-fronted Jay is a recent addition to our fauna. It is found in the 

 mountainous and hilly portions of Eastern Mexico and as far north as Western 

 Texas. Authentic eggs of this species I believe remain unknown, but very likely 

 do not differ much from other members of this genus. 



481. CALIFOBITIA JAY. Aphelocoma californica (Vig.) Geog. Dist.— Pacific 

 . coast of the United States, from Southern California to Oregon, east to Western 



Nevada. 



A common species from the southern portion of California northward to Oregon, 

 inhabiting the trees and thickets bordering streams in. the valleys. It also fre- 

 quents the chapparal and sagebrush patches, and prefers the realms of solitude to the 

 the haunts of man. It is nearly always found in company with the California 

 Thrasher, Harporhynchus redivivus, whose tastes in regard to the general surround- 

 ings are similar. Mr. Shields says that in Los Angeles county this bird begins build- 

 ing about, the first of May, but fresh eggs can be found as late as the last of June; 

 they are usually four, sometimes five in number. The nest is large and bulky, 

 usually placed in scrub-oak or in the thick portions of chapparal; it is composed of 

 twigs, roots and dry grasses. The color of the eggs is a dark sea-green or bluish- 

 greeh', thickly dotted, spotted and sometimes blotched with clove-brown, chestnut, 

 -tjilight buff, dark brown and bluish-gray. A set of five eggs measure: 1.06x.82, 1.08 

 -' X.72, 1.09X.84, l.lOx.81, l.OSx.SO. Ten specimens average 1.08x.80. 



481a. XANTTTS'S JAY. Aphelocoma californica hypoleuca Ridgw. Geog. 

 Dist. — Lower California, from Cape St. Lucas north to latitude 28°. 



The following description of a nest and eggs is by Walter E. Bryant:* "A 

 single nest of this new variety was found by myself a few miles southward from 

 San Ignacio on April 12, 1889. The nest was built about three metres high in a green 

 acacia near the trail. The female was sitting and did not fly until preparations for 

 climbing the tree had commenced. The nest was in quite an exposed situation 

 amongst scant twigs on a horizontal branch. It is composed of small loosely laid 

 dry twigs, and a shallow receptacle lined with fibre and horsehair. The eggs, three 

 in number (set No. 899, coll. of W. E. B.), contained small embryos. They are more 

 finely spotted than some similar Jay's eggs, with shell spots of pale lila,c-gray and 

 surface spots of pale olive-green. The ground color is dull, pale glaucous green. 

 They measure 27.5x20.5; 27.5x21; 27x21 millimetres."t 



4816. BEIiDING'S JAY. Aphelocoma californica obscura Anthony. Geog. 

 Dist. — San Pedro Martir Mountains, Lower California. 



Another subspecies of the California Jay, a darker race, described by Mr. A. W. 

 Anthony, who named it in honor of Mr. L. Belding, the well-known ornithologist. 

 I believe nothing Is as yet known regarding its nests and eggs. 



481. 1. SANTA CBTJZ JAY. Aphelocoma insularis Hensh. Geog. Dist. — Santa 

 Cruz Island, Southern California. 



This species is a larger bird than the California Jay, and generally deeper 

 colored. There appears to be little known about its life history. 



♦ Proc. Cal. Acad. Scl., 2d Ser., Vol. II, June 20, 1889, p. 24. 

 1 1.08X.79, l.OSx.83 and 1.06X.83 Inches. 



