ii2 FIELD MUSEUM OP NATURAL HISTORY ORNITHOLOGY, VOL. I. 



cloth and bound to the back of the saddle, where they endured the 

 forty-mile journey to Guatemala City in safety. The nest measures 

 20 cm. (8 in.) in extreme diameter and 9 cm. (3^ m -) m height. 

 The interior diameter is 10 cm. (4 in.) and depth 4 cm. (i^g in.). The 

 lining is composed of pine needles, fine rootlets and a few hairs. The 

 eggs average 29 x 22 mm. and are pale Nile blue specked with hair 

 brown. This jay was found only where there were evergreens pines 

 or cypress. The lower limit of their range appears to coincide almost 

 exactly with that of the upper limit of Cissolopha. Iris dark brown; 

 legs and bill black. 



Family Ictericlre. 



181. Zarhynchus wagleri mexicanus Ridgway. 



At Finca Chapulco near Los Amates, a large flock of this species 

 passed night and morning nearly over the house. On account of 

 their large size and yellow tails they were not at first distinguished 

 from Gymnostinops, but after it was discovered that both species 

 were present, the more undulating flight of this one served to establish 

 its identity as far as it could be seen. Only one specimen was ob- 

 tained. Iris blue; bill yellow at base and horn-blue at tip; feet black. 



182. Qymnostinops montezuma (Lesson). 



Five skins and a skeleton were obtained at Los Amates, where 

 this species was very plentiful. Morning and evening these birds 

 were assembled in flocks evidently owing to their habit of passing the 

 night in company, but during the day it was not at all uncommon 

 to find single birds feeding alone in the deep swamp forest and occa- 

 sionally uttering their guttural notes. A few were seen at Gualan. 

 Iris dark brown; basal half of bill black, distal half red; bare malar 

 and post-ocular areas flesh color; bare forehead and sides of throat 

 pale rose-purple. 



183. Amblycercus holosericeus (Lichtensteiri) . 



Nine skins and a skeleton. Specimens were taken at Los Amates, 

 Lake Amatitlan, Lake Atitlan, Patulul and San Jose. From both 

 coasts up to 5,000 feet it is common. It is a busy and unsuspicious 

 bird, which spends its time in investigating tangles of brush and vines, 

 and in chiseling its way into hard things with its bill like a wood- 

 pecker. Its pale bill and eyes give it a peculiar look. The enormous 



