MAGPIES, JAYS, CROWS, ETC.: BLUE JAY 
473 
companions—or parents—if, as seemed probable, he were young of 
the year. 
The following year, in the mountains near Taos, soon after reaching 
Wheeler Peak amphitheater, at 11,400 feet, an old Camp Bird discovered 
us, and after testing our camp biscuits promptly flew off and got one 
of its family, almost if not quite fully grown. The rest of the family 
were brought later and remained familiar friends as long as we were 
there. The young were the tamest, coming close to us at meals for 
whatever was thrown them. As late as July 26, one of them was seen 
fluttering its wings for food. 
In nearly the same high altitudes, on Lost Trail Creek—between 
10,700 and 11,000 feet—we again met the lovely birds. At 11,000 feet 
two were seen hopping over the ground in the woods so intent on 
something, probably ground fungus and toadstools, that they were 
oblivious of us. Quantities of the partially eaten tidbits were found 
near by reminding us that we had seen the birds eating toadstools the 
year before. 
Additional Literature.—Bradbury, W. C., Condor, XX, 107-208, 1918 
(nesting).— Demille, John B., Bird-Lore, XXVII, 377-381, 1925.— Skinner, 
M. P., Condor, XXIII, 147-151, 1921 (in Yellowstone). 
NORTHERN BLUE JAY: Cyanocitta cristata br6mia (Oberholser) 
Description. — Length: 11-12.5 inches, wing 5-5.7, tail 5-5.7, bill .9-1, tarsus 
1.2-1.4. Adults: Crest and back purplish blue, tail and wings light blue, barred with 
black and marked strikingly with white, tail with 
white corners; forehead uudnecklaceblack, under¬ 
parts grayish. Younginjuvenalplumage: Similar 
but crest shorter, coloration duller, and mark¬ 
ings less distinct or partly wanting. 
Range. —Breeds from northern Alberta, 
northern Ontario, central Quebec, and New¬ 
foundland south to North Carolina, Illinois, 
Missouri, and central Texas; casual in New 
Mexico and Colorado. 
State Records. —Fifty years ago Doctor 
Henry wrote that the eastern Blue Jay was 
reported to occur on the northern Rio Grande in New Mexico. No confirmation 
of this report had been received, nor was the presence of the species in the State 
known with certainty until on October 17, 1908, one was seen at Fruitland (Birds¬ 
eye), and the next day three more on the same ranch. Apparently this was a family 
party located here more than 300 miles west of the normal range of the species, from 
which it was separated by a wide stretch of treeless plains, and the main range of the 
Rocky Mountains. The conditions suggest that the birds had been brought there 
by human agency.—W. W. Cooke. 
Nest. —Usually in trees, often in orchards about houses, made largely of dried 
twigs and rootlets. Eggs: 3 to 6, pale olive, greenish, or buffy, sparsely spotted with 
brown. 
Food.— Largely mast, but also insects, including the codling moth larvae. 
Fig. 83. Blue Jay 
