The Female is considerably smaller, but resembles the male in colour.
Length to end of tail 11 1/2 inches; wing from flexure 5 3/12; tail 6 2/12; tarsus 1 7/12; middle toe 1, its claw 6 1/2/12.
The resemblance which this species bears to the Florida Jay is so close that one might readily confound the two. That species, however, is distinguishable by its smaller size and its more rounded tail; by its having a band of whitish across the forehead and extended over the eye, where it is not in dots as in the Ultramarine Jay.
CLARKE’S NUTCRACKER.
Nucifraga columbiana.
PLATE CCCLXII. Adult.
No sooner had I examined perfect specimens of this somewhat singularly coloured bird, than I felt assured, more especially from the form of its bill, that it is with us a representative of the Nutcracker of Europe; and I was much surprised, on comparing it with the figure given of it by Alexander Wilson, to find the latter very defective, the bill being nearly half an inch shorter than in four specimens which I have inspected. All that is known of its habits is contained in the following notes from Mr Nuttall and Dr Townsend.
“We first observed this species in a small pine grove, on the borders of Bear River, in the table-land of the Rocky Mountains, where they were probably breeding, in the month of July. We again saw a considerable flock of the young birds early in August, in a lofty ravine near the summit of one of the three belts or isolated mountains, about thirty or forty miles west of the Shoshonee River. They appeared somewhat shy, and scattered through a grove of aspens, flying with a slight chatter, scarcely a caw, from the tops of the bushes or trees, on to the ground, probably in quest of insect food. We never saw this species either on the lower plains or forests of the Columbia, or in any part of Upper California. It appears never to descend below the mountain plains.” T. N.
“Clarke’s Crow, Corvus columbianus. First found on Bear River, and afterwards on the Blue Mountains, plentiful. Its flight is very unlike that of the Common Crow, being performed by jerks, like that of the Woodpecker. When sitting, it is almost constantly screaming; its voice is very harsh and grating, and consists of one rather prolonged note. It breeds here in very high pine trees. The White Pelican also seen here in July, no doubt breeds; also the Canvass-backed Duck, the Shoveller, and Dusky Duck; found young of all of them. The Corvus columbianus is never seen within five hundred miles of the mouth of the Columbia. It appears generally to prefer a mountainous country and pine trees; and feeds chiefly on insects and their larvæ.” J. K. T.
Clarke’s Crow, Corvus columbianus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. iii. p. 29. pl. 20, fig. 2.
Corvus columbianus, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 57.