*_Aphelocoma ultramarina couchii_ (Baird).--_Specimens examined:_ total
14: [Female] 31051 from Sierra de la Encantada (=38 mi. S, 23 mi. E
Boquillas), 4400 ft., March 15, 1952; [Male] [Male] 29425-29426 and
[Female] [Female] 29427-29428 from Club Sierra del Carmen (=2 mi. N, 6
mi. W Piedra Blanca), 4950 ft., April 8, 1950; sex ? 31052 (skeleton
only) from 4 mi. W Hacienda La Mariposa, 2300 ft., March 25, 1952;
[Female] [Female] 31635-31636 from Canyon de Parazos in the Sierra de
la Parazos Azula (=9 mi. E Hermanas), 2100 ft., December 7, 1953;
[Female] 32082 from 4 mi. N, 21 mi. W Cuatro Cienegas, 6200 ft., July
3, 1952; [Female] 31053 (skeleton only) from 26 mi. W Santa Teresa,
7050 ft., April 5, 1952; [Male] 32081 from 7 mi. S, 4 mi. E Bella
Union, 7200 ft., June 25, 1952; [Female] 33173 (skeleton only) from 13
mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas, 9950 ft., July 6, 1955; [Male] 31607
from 13 mi. E, 3 mi. S San Antonio de las Alazanas, 8900 ft., January
11, 1954; and [Male] 31654 from Sierra Guadalupe (=10 mi. S, 5 mi. W
General Cepeda), 7000 ft., April 13, 1953.
The Mexican Jay is common in Coahuila. This species occupies various
habitats in the State and has been collected at stations ranging from
2100 to 9950 feet.
Miller (1955a:167) stated that the Mexican Jay was the most abundant
species of bird in the Sierra del Carmen. Burleigh and Lowery
(1942:196) remarked that specimens of _A. u. couchii_ were obtained "in
the area surrounding the summit of Diamante Pass." At no time did
Burleigh and Lowery (_loc. cit._) see this species below 6500 feet. The
Mexican Jay is restricted to the higher altitudes in southern Coahuila
but is more widespread in northern Coahuila. Dickerman saw Mexican Jays
in the Sierra del Pino on May 12, 1954; 16 mi. E and 18 mi. N Ocampo on
May 7, 1954; in the Sierra de la Madera on December 13, 1953; and 20
mi. S Ocampo on April 4, 1954.
Ridgway (1904:340) remarked that _Aphelocoma sieberii potosina_ Nelson
[=_A. u. couchii_ (Baird)] has been recorded in southern Coahuila, at
Carneros. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:124) recorded _A.
u. couchii_ from Carneros, Nuevo Leon. I suspect (Ridgway, 1904:340 and
Goldman, 1951: map opposite p. 34) that the locality given by Miller,
Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (_op. cit._) should be Carneros,
Coahuila, rather than Carneros, Nuevo Leon.
Specimens (31051, 29425-29428, 31635-31636, 32081-32082, 31607, and
31654) of the Mexican Jay increase in size from northern Coahuila to
southern Coahuila. The average length of the wings of Nos. 29425-29426
from Club Sierra del Carmen is 152 mm. whereas the average length of
the wings of No. 32081 from 7 mi. S and 4 mi. E Bella Union, of No.
31607 from 13 mi. E and 3 mi. S San Antonio de las Alazanas, and of No.
31654 from Sierra Guadalupe is 164 mm.
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