THE LONG-CEESTED JAY. 369 



Tlie nests of the Long-crested Jay, of which several are before me, resem- 

 ble those of the preceding subspecies in general construction, and mud enters 

 largely into their composition. While they vary but little outwardly in size and 

 bulk; the inner cup shows more variation, ranging from 3 J to 4 J inches in 

 diameter, and 2^ to 2| inches in depth. The inner lining consists mostly of 

 small rootlets, in one instance considerable horsehair being intermixed, while in 

 another the lining consists principally of grass and pine needles. 



The eggs vary from three to six in number, sets of four or five being 

 most often found. They are indistinguishable from those of Steller's Jay, with 

 the exception of being perhaps a trifle more glossy. Their breeding habits are 

 also similar. 



The average measurement of thirty eggs in the United States National 

 Museum collection is 30.94 by 22.35 millimetres, or 1.22 by 0.88 inches. The 

 largest egg of the series measures 33.78 by 23.62 millimetres, or 1.33 by 0.93 

 inches; the smallest, 27.94 by 21.59 millimetres, or 1.10 by 0.85 inches. 



The type specimen. No. 23774 (PI. 5, Fig. 11), from a set of five eggs 

 taken by Lieut. H. C Benson, Fourth Cavahy, United States Army, near Fort 

 Stanton, New Mexico, in May, 1884, represents a large and boldly marked egg, 

 while No. 24444 (PI. 5, Fig. 12), also from a set of five eggs, Ralph collection, 

 taken in Estes Park, Colorado, on May 25, 1890, represents in its markings an 

 average egg of this subspecies. 



144. Cyanocitta stelleri annectens (Baird). 



BLACK-HEADED JAY. 



[Gyanura stelleri] var. annectens Baikd, History of North American Birds, II, 1874, 281 in 



text. 

 Gyanocitta stelleri annectens Eidgwat, Proceedings U. S. National Museum, III, August 



24, 1880, 184. 



(B 436, part; 235a, part; E 2906; 352, part; U 478c.) 



Geographical range: Northern Eocky Mountains; south to southern Wyoming 

 and northern Utah (Wasatch Eange) ; west to Oregon and Washington, east of the Cas- 

 cade Mountains. 



The Black-headed Jay is a resident of the northern Rocky Mountain regions 

 of the United States, and doubtless occurs also in corresponding localities in the 

 southern parts of British North America, in eastern British Columbia, and in 

 the Province of Alberta. 



Mr. Robert Ridgway found it breeding in Parley's Park, in the Wasatch 

 Mountains, Utah, June 25, 1869, which mark about the southern limits of its 

 range. " The nest was placed in a small fir tree on the edge of a wood. It 

 was saddled on a horizontal branch, about 15 feet from the ground, and con- 

 tained six eggs. The base of the nest was composed of coarse, strong sticks, 

 rudely put together. Upon this was constructed a solid, firm plastering of mud 

 of a uniform concave shape, lined with fine, wiry roots. The external diameter 



16896— No. 3 24 



