328 liJUHTS AND HGCrS OF 



no young of the first brood were seen, while numbers of adults were observed daily 

 from April 9 until the last of May.. On April 19 the first eggs were taken, two sets 

 being found; one of four with large embryos, the other of five, nearly fresh. The 

 latest set, consisting of four fresh eggs, was found May 17. The usual number of 

 eggs to a clutch is four, occasionally five. The average size of the specimens col- 

 lected by :ir. Sennett in a season is 1.06x.81, those taken in another season's col- 

 lecting, 1.08X.81. Dr. Merrill describes the eggs as having a grayish-white ground- 

 color, thickly spotted with brown and pale lilac, especially at the larger end. One 

 set, however, was found with the markings more numerous at the smaller end, and 

 averaging l.Olx.80. 



484. CAITASA JAY. Perisoreus canaAtnsls (Linn.) Geog. Dist. — Northern 

 New Elngland and New York, Northern Michigan and Canada, northward to Arctic 

 America. 



The Moose-Bird, Whisky Jack, or Whisky John, as it is variously called, breeds 

 in Maine and northward. It is a resident species, and seldom seen south of its 

 breeding range. In Manitoba it is an abundant bird. Its general habits and nesting 

 are in nowise peculiar, being similar to those of others of the family. The nest is 

 usually a large, 'bulky structure, placed on the bough of a spruce or other ever- 

 green. It is made of twigs, pine-needles, bark-strips and grasses, lined with finer 

 vegetable material and feathers. The nesting time in Northern Maine and New 

 Brunswick is March and April. The eggs are light gray, with a yellowish tinge, 

 finely marked, more abundantly at the larger end with dots and blotches of slate 

 color and brown, and faint cloudings of an obscure lilac, exhibiting the usual varia- 

 tions in color and size found in the eggs of other Jays; four or five in number; 

 average size. 1.17x.80. 



484a. ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAY. Perisoreus canadensis capitalis Baird. 

 Geog. Dist. — Rocky Mountains, south to Arizona and New Mexico. 



This bird is called the White-headed Jay or Rocky Mountain Whisky Jack — 

 a race of the Canada Jay, but very much different. It is peculiar to the Rocky 

 Mountain region, and is especially common in Northern New Mexico and Colorado. 

 In the breeding season it is found high up in the mountains in the spruce timber, 

 from 8000 feet to timber liiue. He is said to be "as big a thief as ever wore feathers." 

 White-headed, he at times appears grave and sedate, but is always possessed of a 

 whimsical brain. Small articles around camp that strike his fancy are always found 

 missing after one of his visits. Nest-building is begun usually in April. The site 

 generally chosen is the horizontal branch of a pine, varying in height from fifty to 

 sixty feet from the ground. The materials are twigs, pine-needles, Vark, grasses 

 and hempen fibres, all compactly Interwoven into a rude, bulky but strong struc- 

 ture; itds warmly lined with the feathers and down of birds. The external height 

 is about four inches, and the diameter seven; the cavity about two inches deep and 

 four across. The eggs are three to five in number, grayish-white in ground-color, 

 finely speckled with various shades of brown; in some specimens the markings are 

 more numerous about the greater end. Size, 1.16x.86. 



484b. ALASKAN' JAY. Perisoreus canadensis fumifrons Ridgw. Geog. Dist. — 

 Alaska, except southern coast districts. 



According to Turner the Alaskan Jay rarely occurs in the vicinity of St. 

 Michael's, but along the Yukon River it^is abundant and a permanent resident. 

 Two nests were brought Mr. Nelson from the mouth of the Tanana River by Mr. M. 



