A TROPICAL AMERICAN RIVAL OF THE DATE PALM 



The peiibaye or chontaduro grows in Costa Rica, Panama, and northern South America. 

 Throughout this territory it is an important food-plant, occupymg a position somewhat analogous 

 to that held by the date palm in Arabia. The specimen here shown is in the garden of Don Jose 

 Zeledon at San Jose, Costa Rica. Hanging from the tip of one of the leaves is a nest of the oro- 

 pendula (Ocyalus wagleri) or social oriole. (Fig. 4.) 



