Pifion Jay 299 
The eggs, four or five in number, are laid at the end of 
April or beginning of May; they are blueish-white in 
colour, moderately speckled with small spots and 
blotches of brown; they measure 1°19 x ‘87. 
Christy gives a few further particulars; he found 
nests with fresh eggs between April 5th and May 20th, 
near Rouse Junction, in Huerfano co.; the birds there 
nest in colonies of from 12 to 150 pairs, at elevations of 
7,500 to 8,000 feet. 
Family ICTERIDA:. 
Bill of very varying shape—crow-like to finch-like— 
without rectal bristles; wing with nine primaries and 
nine secondaries; tail with twelve rectrices; tarsus 
scutellate. 
This family is confined to the New World, and out of 
some thirty genera, representatives of eight occur in 
Colorado. 
Key OF THE GENERA. 
A. Tail-feathers sharp pointed, only two primaries, seventh and 
eighth sinuated on their outer webs. Dolichonyx, p. 300. 
B. Tail-feathers not distinctly sharp pointed; at least three 
primaries sinuated on their outer webs. 
a. Tail very short, about % of wing. 
a? Bill elongated and slender, as long as the head; hind toe 
stout, longer than the lateral ones. Sturnella, p. 309. 
b? Bill stout and conical, about 4 the length of the head ; 
hind toe normal. Molothrus, p. 302. 
b. Tail always more than # of wing. 
at Tail strongly graduated and plicate; capable of being 
folded vertically. Quiscalus, p. 319. 
bi Tail square or but slightly rounded. 
a? Bill slender, culmen straight or slightly decurved ; feet 
weak, tarsus about equal to the middle toe and claw. 
Icterus, p. 311. 
b? Bill distinctly decurved, narrow and shorter than the 
head ; tarsus longer than the middle toe and claw. 
Euphagus, p. 315. 
