FAMILY CORVIDAE 



49 



Females (5 from Chiriqui), wing 118.5-121.1 (119.6), tail 118.7- 

 128.0 (123.2), culmen from base 28.0-30.4 (29.0), tarsus 32.3-36.8 

 (35.1) mm. 



Resident. Found locally on the upper slopes of Volcan de Chiriqui, 

 from 1525 to 3000 m elevation, from above Boquete to above Cerro 

 Punta. 



Figure 5. — Silvery-throated Jay, Urraca Garganta de Plata, Cyanolyca argenti- 

 gula argentigula. 



On the forested slopes of the higher levels of Bajo Grande, beyond 

 Cerro Punta, I found this jay ranging through the higher branches of 

 the forest trees in scattered flocks of a dozen to 20 or more. In man- 

 nerism they suggested common species of the north of the genus Cyano- 

 citta. Their low calls, pay pay pay, uttered slowly, also were similar in 

 tone but less vociferous. While they did not seem timid, the fairly thick 

 growths of the abundant epiphytes and subdued coloration of the birds 

 tended to conceal their movements so that they were not conspicuous. 

 When I took one or two for specimens, their companions seemed little 

 alarmed. If their low calls were heard at a distance, the birds usually 

 came near when I made the usual squeaking sounds of our bird calls. 

 But against the dark background of the tree limbs and thick parasitic 

 growths the birds often were so screened that they could not be seen. 

 Their flights were for only short distances among the branches. The 

 stomachs of those examined were filled with insects. 



The type specimen of the nominate race, argentigula, in the Smith- 

 sonian collections, obtained in April 1874 by Juan Cooper, came from 

 William M. Gabb. It appears to be the only older record known for 

 this form for Costa Rica. Pitelka's (Journ. Washington Acad. Sci., 



