480 
BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
Mexico. It was reported in 1858 by Baird at Copper Mines—Fort Webster. [Com¬ 
mon in the southwestern part of the State east to the Mimbres River and north to 
Silver City, Alma, and the Mimbres Post Office 5 miles north (Ligon, 1916-1918).] 
Tt is known northeast to Fort Bayard (Henshaw); east to the Animas Mountains 
(Goldman); and the San Luis Mountains (Mearns). Though here at the limit of its 
range, it is a common resident at Silver City (Hunn). It was found in abundance in 
the Animas Mountains, July 29-August 7,1908, from 5,800 to 6,800 feet, and equally 
abundant in the Burro Mountains, 6,000-7,000 feet, September 15-23, 1908 (Gold¬ 
man); [still abundant in Animas and Burro Mountains in 1920 (Ligon).] 
The first eggs known to science were taken April 29, 1876, near FortJBayard 
(Stephens). [A completed nest was found April 28, 1916 (Ligon).] 
The species is [apparently] non-migratory, except as it wanders in the fall and 
winter a few miles out into the foothills and plains.—W. W. Cooke. 
Nest. —In scrub oaks, rather flatfish, the framework made of small sticks 
enclosing the nest of interwoven rootlets, sometimes lined with horsehair. Eggs: 
Usually 4 or 5, unmarked , light greenish blue. 
Food. —Largely acorns, but also wild fruit and seeds, grasshoppers, beetles, true 
bugs, gray tree moths, and alfalfa weevils. 
General Habits. —The blue Arizona Jays, to be distinguished from 
the Woodhouse by the absence of gray on the back and white streaking 
on the throat, are abundant in the live oak regions of the mountains of 
southeastern Arizona. They were found by Major Goldman late in 
July, 1908, common along Indian Creek in the Animas Mountains from 
5,800 to 6,800 feet, in oaks and pines. “They were quite tame,” he 
writes, “and the noise they made was somewhat annoying when hunting 
for other birds. The sound of a shot caused them to scatter, but soon 
they were back to the tree tops over my head, screeching and scolding 
and jerking themselves to and fro for emphasis. Early one morning a 
Jay with wings in soaring position was seen to take a large insect 
flying about twenty feet from the ground. The bird then alighted 
in an oak near, and sat a moment while swallowing the insect” (MS). 
According to the observations of A. P. Smith, the Jays do good 
work in reforestation during the acorn season. In describing their 
work he says, “numbers of the birds are seen flying back and forth. 
The ground selected contains much rubble, running to small fragments, 
say the size of a man’s fist. Generally the acorns (for several are 
often deposited in one spot) are pushed under the side of the stone 
nearest to or facing the ravine; a wise provision for the bird’s future, 
and a fortunate one for the possible future oak, as it guards against 
washing out in times of heavy rain; likewise conserving moisture in 
the months of drought. The spring and summer of the present year 
(1907), were dry, very dry; yet in many slopes seedling oaks were 
growing vigorously. No parent oak in the vicinity grew at a higher 
level; and as the acorn is quite too heavy to be transported by wind 
action—at least upward—one may figure out conclusions’’ (1908, 
p. 78). 
