Sept., 1916 
SOME BIRD NOTES FROM HUMBOLDT BAY 
199 
The Coast Jay ( Cyanocitta s. carbonacea ) of the Humboldt Bay region 
appears to be, as a rule, somewhat lighter colored than specimens from Marin 
County. While the Eureka bird inclines mostly toward carbonacea , individ- 
uals vary considerably, and some of the lighter ones, taken in the first week 
in June, differ from June birds taken near the mouth of the Russian River, 
Sonoma County, only in that they are rather darker on the head and back, 
while the lighter blues with a certain greenish tinge are very close to the 
tints of the same feathers in specimens of unquestionable frontalis, to which 
form the Russian River birds are so closely allied. As a whole, however, the 
Humboldt Bay bird is very similar to that of the coast country of southern 
Monterey County, such as vicinity of Little Sur River, Lucia, Partington 
Point, etc., all the specimens from these localities, that are in our collection 
at least (coll, of J. and J. W. Mailliard), being somewhat lighter than those 
taken in Marin County, athough all classified with carbonacea. 
The California Jay ( Aphelocoma c. calif ornica) it seems has never been 
recorded from the vicinity of Humboldt Bay, although it has been taken at 
Hoopa Valley to the northeast of Eureka and over a range or so of moun- 
tains (W. K. Fisher, Condor, vi, 1904, p. 51). This species is reported by C. I. 
Clay as breeding at Alton, 21 miles south of Eureka, at an elevation of only a 
few feet above the sea, and except for being a little more open, in similar type 
of country to that actually bordering Humboldt Bay. In the mounted collec- 
tion of birds belonging to Dr. B. M. Marshall, of Eureka, are some specimens 
of the California Jay labelled Eureka, put up by Mr. F. J. Smith, of that place, 
and taken by either one or the other of these two Cooper Club members. 
While none of this species was noted by the Avriter in the actual vicinity of 
Humboldt Bay, a couple were seen and one taken back of Areata at an alti- 
tude of about 1800 feet, where poison oak and the buckeye were in evidence. 
The Northwestern Red-winged Blackbird ( Agelaius ph. caurinus) seems to 
have been recorded from California in only tAvo instances, up to the time that 
Grinnell’s Distributional List Avas published, yet this is apparently the form 
breeding in the vicinity of Humboldt Bay. But few of these birds were ob- 
served, and breeding colonies were scarce. Around San Francisco Bay, and 
in the interior, redAvings in the breeding season may be seen in almost any 
favorable locality, such as marshes and SAvamps, along sloughs Avhere tules 
grow, and even along the roads among grain fields. But in the Humboldt 
Bay region many seemingly most suitable spots Avere reconnoitred without suc- 
cess, and Avhere finally found nesting it Avas in colonies containing but few 
individuals. Some twenty specimens Avere taken, and, while the plumage at 
this late date (June 1) Avas not in a very satisfactory condition for determina- 
tion of sub-species, there seems to be no doubt as to this form being caurinus. 
Bryant’s Marsh Sparrow ( Passerculus s. bryanti ) is common on the 
marshes around Humboldt Bay, its breeding habitat being supposedly con- 
fined to tidal marshes. Yet a male of this form was taken on May 28 on Knee- 
land prairie on top of a range at an elevation of about 2800 feet and 18 miles 
from salt water. It appeared to be nesting, but neither nest nor mate Avas 
secured. This individual is indistinguishable from specimens taken at same 
date on salt marsh near Eureka except that the bill is more slender than any 
other obtained. 
The Mendocino Song Sparrow ( Melospiza m. cleonensis ) is given in Grin- 
nell’s Distributional List as a resident of fresh Avater marshes near the sea, but 
