1877,3 125 [Bendire. 



these birds commence breeding as early as March 15. On the 5th of 

 May, 1875, I found young birds well able to fly, which probably left 

 their nest a week previously. 1 



74. Gymnokitta cyanocephala (Pr. Max.). Maximilians 

 Jay. 



I saw a flock of this species, containing, perhaps, about eighty in- 

 dividuals, flying along Rattlesnake Creek late in October. 1875. 

 They came from the direction of the Blue Mountains and were flying 

 southward. They were very noisy, and flew swiftly, keeping up a 

 constant screaming while on the wing. Two eggs of this species 

 taken in Colorado by Mr. Chs. E. Aiken, and now in my collection, 

 measure 1.11 X -86 and 1.10 X .88 of an inch. They were obtained 

 May 13, 1874. Mr. Aiken describes the specimens retained by 

 him as follows: " Of a plump oval form, color very pale greenish 

 blue, plentifully sprinkled everywhere with specks of brown and pale 

 lilac, which become blended at the larger end. The ground color is 

 a grayish green, of a slightly deeper shade than in the eggs of Pici- 

 corvus columbianus. This nest was placed in a scrub pine and is the 

 only one found so far containing eggs. Mr. Aiken found four other 

 nests with young ones near the same place on the same day. 



75. Pica caudata var. hudsonica (Bonap.). Magpie. 



Not common in the vicinity of Camp Harney during the summer, 

 more abundant throughout the winter, and much shyer than in other 

 places. At Fort Lapwai, Idaho, they were exceedingly numerous at 

 all times, and very familiar and mischievous. While at this post, a 

 fine setter dog of mine would frequently carry a bone to the front of 

 my quarters to gnaw at his leisure. After a while, four or five mag- 

 pies would come about him, and watch their chance to get a peck at 

 the bone. In order to accomplish this, one of the birds would sta- 

 tion itself about a foot from the dog's tail, the other three or four 

 taking their positions in front, on the sides of the dog's head. The 

 bird in rear would watch for a chance when " Rock " was occupied 

 with his bone, and make a sudden dive at the extremity of his tail. 

 The enraged dog would jump around, forgetting his bone and trying 

 to catch his tormentor. The bird would then leisurely escape. The 

 remaining birds, in the mean time, devoted themselves to the bone, 

 and would carry it away if small enough. If too large they would 



1 Letters from Capt. B. state that owing to the entire failure of the pine seeds, 

 this species was not present near Camp Harney in the spring of 1877 until early 

 in June. 



