Page:Condor19(3).djvu/21

 May, 1917 STATUS OF APHELOCOMA CYANOTIS AND ITS ALLIES 95 synonym of Aphelocoma cali[ornica cali[ornica. A recent examination of speci- mens, however, shows that it is a recognizable race, differing from Aphelocoma cali[ornica caliComica in its larger size, particularly of wing and tail, and in its somewhat paler, and in fresh plumage, slightly more grayish, blue of upper parts. It occupies the western part of Oregon and the northern part of California; and we have examined specimens from the following localities: Oregon: Klamath Falls. California: Goose Lake; Dana; Ice Caves, six miles southwest of Tule Lake; Picard; Lake City; and Lassen Peak. The Florida jay, Aphelocoma cyanea (Vieillot) (--Aphelocoma [loridana [Bonaparte]) seems, however, to be a species distinct from any of the above, since it differs constantly in its pale forehead and pale sides of the pileurn; also Aphelocoma insularis, by reason of its very large size and nmch darker colora- tion, appears to be trcnchantly different from any of its allies, and thus speci- fically distinct. With the changes indicated above, the forms of what might conveniently be called the Aphelocoma cali[ornica group will stand as follows: Aphelocoma cyanea (Vieillot) Aphelocoma cali[ornica cali[ornica (Vigors) Aphelocoma cali[ornica immanis Grinnell Aphelocoma cali[ornica obscura Anthony Aphelocoma cali[ornica hypoleuca Ridgway Aphelocoma californica grisea Nelson Aphelocoma calif ornica cyanotis Ridgway Aphelocoma cali[ornica sumichrasti Ridgway Aphelocoma cali[ornica texana Ridgway A phelocoma cal if ornica woodhou seii (Baird) Aphelocoma insularis Henshaw. Washington, D.C., March 9, 1917. BIRDS OF THE HUMID COAST By FLORENCE MERRIAM BAILEY WITH ONE ILLUSTRATION (Concluded from page 54) VI. IN THE BRACKEN NE of the choicest parts of this half cleared strip of land surrounded by for- est was an acre of high bracken, the west coast form of the brake, adjoining the carpenter's garden and strawberry bed, solid fern threaded only by nar- row trails leading down on one side to the New Englander 's in the clearing and on the other to the fishing village by the Bay. Looking off over the fern field to the south there was a rich satisfying mountain view, the wide timbered V of Miami N.tch, fitrough which was seen, in the morning light, a sunlit forest; in the afternoon shadow, a rich purple mountain mass. On warm days the view through the noleh was softly veiled, while the trees outlining the notch stood in idyllic haze. To the west, between framing conifers could be had glimpses of the Bay which at high tide was banded purple and pale green with brown