342 Zoologica : A^. Y. Zoological Society. [I ; 18 



Zarhynchus wagleri wagleri (Gray). Wagler Giant Cacique. 



This species is found only in the highlands and usually is 

 not found below 2,000 feet. A tramway runs from Guapiles up 

 the slope of Turrialba for about six miles. About four miles up, 

 at an estimated altitude of 1,800 feet, was a large colony of Zar- 

 hynchus, and farther on a smaller one. 



The trees in these cases were not of the species chosen by 

 Gymnostinops. They were less tall, narrower in girth and with 

 the small branches covered with spines. Neither colony was 

 associated with wasps. 



The visit was made on April 26. The smaller group num- 

 bered twenty-one nests, the other forty-three, a total of sixty- 

 four. Of these, but thirty-nine were occupied. Twenty-two 

 contained eggs and seventeen held young in all stages of develop- 

 ment. Of the latter one held two nearly fledged young, beside 

 the nest which was shared with a Cassidix, and two others two 

 small birds each, while two contained pairs of eggs. Thus, out 

 of a total of thirty-nine occupied nests, only five contained more 

 than one egg or chick. It seems, therefore, that the normal 

 clutch of this species, as well as Gymnostinops, is but one egg. 



The measurements of six eggs collected are as follows : 

 32mm. x 22.65mm. 32.9mm. x 22mm. 



32.55mm. x 22.2mm. 33.3mm. x 22.6mm. 



34.5mm. x 23mm. 34.2mm x 22.7mm. 



They are pale greenish blue, blotched with dark brown, more 

 heavily at the larger end. 



The young have the beak quite white and the gape pale 

 yellow. 



The nests of Zarhynchus were composed of the same ma- 

 terials as were those of the larger species but, as would be ex- 

 pected, the former are considerably smaller. Many were mea- 

 sured, and all were between twenty-four and thirty inches in 

 length, the average being about twenty-eight inches, while the 

 diameter at the bottom averaged seven inches. The weave is 

 much closer and finer, and the nests of the two species are dis- 



