Nov., 1918 



NESTING OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAY 



205 



found no indication of a nest. March 21 I saw a pair of birds, one following 

 the other from tree to tree, one of them apparently with something in its 

 mouth, but the hill was so steep I could not follow straight up with skees, and 

 lost them. An hour or so later I discovered them, the lead bird with its mouth 

 full of nesting material, and soon located the nest. It was about four feet from 

 the top of a spruce tree, on the east side of a hill, absolutely concealed in thick 

 foliage. I could detect nothing from any point either with or without my 

 glasses, and as the birds were only building, did not disturb the nest. March 

 28 1 revisited the nest site and saw both birds, but they were shy, and did not 

 approach the nest, though they stayed in the tops of nearby trees. 



Fig. 42. Nest and eggs of the Rocky Mountain Jay; set no. 



'April 5 no birds were present, but I investigated the nest, which was ap- 

 parently completed but empty. I concluded it had been abandoned. 



" April 9 could see nothing of the birds, but being now convinced that the 

 nesi was abandoned, I did not climb to the nest. 



"April 15, seeing nothing of the birds, I decided to collect the nest for ex- 

 amination. To my surprise it contained two eggs, which I deemed an incom- 

 plete set, and left it undisturbed. 



"April 21 no trace of the birds was to be seen, but when I climbed the 



