THE BLUE-EAKED JAY. 383 



Pacific Railroad, and the highest point (6,082 feet) on this road.^ These speci- 

 mens were taken on July 14, 18, and 21, 1890, and it is probable that this 

 species breeds there. The mountain slopes here, forming a southern extension 

 of the Guadalupe range, are covered in places with scrub oak and juniper groves, 

 and these form the home of this Jay. 



Dr. A. K. Fisher, in his note in "The Auk" already mentioned, referring to 

 these Texas specimens, says: "Through the kindness of Mr. Ridgway they were 

 compared with the type of Aphelocoma cyanotis in the United States National 

 Museum collection, and were found to be referable to that species. They differ 

 from cyanotis in averaging a little smaller, and in having a more slender bill, thus 

 grading toward woodhousei, as might be expected, where the range of that bird is 

 approached. In coloration, however, allowing for the slight difference due in 

 the wearing of the pliimage, they are identical with cyanotis, and in no way 

 resemble woodhousei." 



Its nests and eggs still remain unknown, as far as I am aware, but they are 

 not likely to differ very much from those of the other members of this genus. 

 The mountains and hilly regions of that part of Texas where this Jay is found 

 have been but very indifferently explored, and undoubtedly other species new to 

 our fauna will be found here when this section becomes better known from an 

 ornithological standpoint.^ 



153. Xanthoura luxuosa (Lesson). 



GKEEN JAY. 



Oarrulus luxuosus Lesson, Eevue Zoologique, 1839, 100. 

 Xanthoura luxuosa Bonaparte, Conspectus Avium, 1, 1850, 380. 



(B 442, 238, R 296, 358, U 483.) 



GrBOGEAPHiOAL RANGE: Lower Eio Grande Yalley, in Texas j south through eastern 

 Mexico to Vera Cruz and Puebla. 



The range of the Green or Rio Grande Jay is a very restricted one in the 

 United States, including only the lower Rio Grande Valley, northwest to about 

 Rio Grande City, Texas. 



Mr. D. B. Burrows, writing me from Roma, Texas, says: "These birds are 

 common a few miles below Rio Grande City, but are never seen above this place." 



'The Auk, Vol. XI, p. 327. 



^ Since this was written Mr. H. P. Att water, of San Antonio, Texas, to whom I am indebted for a great 

 deal of yaluable information relating to Texas birds, has kindly sent me a skin of a Jay, a female, shot near 

 the head waters of the Nueces River, in Edwards County, Texas, on December 1, 1894, which, on careful 

 comparison with a fair series of skins of the Blue-eared Jay now in the U. S. National Museum, as well as 

 in the collection of birds in the U. S. Department of Agriculture, does not appear to me to be referable to 

 this species, although it resembles it rather closely. I am inclined to believe that on the whole it comes 

 nearer to Aphelocoma sumichrasii Ridgway, and may prove to be a new race of this species. In the mean- 

 time I have received some additional material, consisting of an adult male and 3 adult females, as well as a 

 young female, only a few days from the nest. One of the adults was taken on March 18, the remaining ones 

 on May 8, 1895. Mr. Attwater obtained these species near the source of Johnson Creek, about 20 miles 

 northwest of KerrviUe, Kerr County, Texas, where this species is not uncommon and breeds. Although these 

 skins are in rather worn plumage and in poor condition, they appear to be referable to this species instead 

 of Aphelocoma aumichrasti, as was at first surmised. This extends its range somewhat farther eastward. 



