AN ANNOTATED LIST OF BIRDS C0LLECTP:D IN THEVICINITY OF LA GFAIRA, VENEZUELA.
By WiiiT Robinson,Captain, U. S. Army,andCharles W. Richmond,Assistant Curator of Birds.
The following- list enibraccs two colloetion.s made b}' Captain Robin-son, one in the summer of 1895 ^ and the other in the .summer of 19< >0,together with a few specimens collected by Mr. Marcus W. Lyon, jr.,who accompanied Captain Robinson on his second trip. In this listthe identilications. descriptions of new species, and critical notes areI)}' Dr. Richmond and the field notes b}^ Captain Robinson.For detailed information relating to the second trip, the localitiesvisited, etc., the reader is referred to the introductory remarks in thepaper on the mammals, pages 135 to 162 of this volume.Family TINAMID.E.
I. CRYPTURUS sou: (Hermann).PILEATED TINA:M0U.Local name: Ponchita.Three were obtained at San Julian, where the}^ were found in thebrush on the lower hills. A female taken August 8 contained an eggnearl}- read}' for exclusion, the shell being partly formed, althoughstill soft and not pigmented. Its dimensions were iO by 30 mm.(li by 1\ inches). There was in the ovaries a second Qgg the size ofa cherry. The natives stated that it lays but two eggs. Its flesh iswhite and tender. Irides light brown; tarsi olive.Another and considerably larger species of tinamou was said to befound at San Julian.
^ For details of this trip, see An Annotated List of Birds Observed in MargaritaIsland and at Guanta and La Guaira, Venezuela, by Wirt Robinson, Proo. L'. S. Nat.Mus., XVIII (1895), pp. 649-680.Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXIV?No. 1247. 163
164 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxiv.Family LARID^.
2. LARUS ATRICILLA (Linnaeus).LAUGHING GULL.Small flocks of 6 or 8 seen along the beaches at La Giiaira.Family PELECANID^.
3. PELECANUS OCCIDENTALIS (Linnaeus).BROWN PELICAN.A good man}^ seen near Ija Guaira and around a mangrove swampat San Julian. Family FREGATID.E.
4. FREGATA AQUILA (Linnaeus).MAN-O'-WAR BIRD.Common in the vicinity of La Guaira.Family ARDEID.E.
5. TIGRISOMA SALMONI Sclater and Salvin.
.SALMON'S TIGER BITTERN.Mr. Lyon secured a specimen at Macuto on August 10. It wasyoung, the neck feathers showing still the characteristic yellow fila-mentous tippings.Dr. Sharpe has placed T. cabanisi of Central America in a newgenus, Ileterocnus^ on account of its naked throat. However, in bothhis original diagnosis^ and his key^ he has reversed the actual condi-tions, making Heterocnus the form with the throat feathered on themedian line, and Tigrisonia the naked-throated one.Family SCOLOPACID^E.6. TRINGA MINUTILLA Vieillot.LEAST SANDPIPER.A specimen was found dead by a puddle in the road near Macuto onAugust 10. It was greatly emaciated. Tarsi greenish yellow.
7. EREUNETES PUSILLUS (Linnaeus).SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER.Two specimens were given to Mr. Lyon at Macuto on August 10 bya boy who had snared them on the beach. Tarsi dark green.iBull. Brit. Orn. Club, V, 1895, p. xiv.
^Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XXVI, 1898, p. 59.
NO. 1247. BIRDS OF VENEZUELA?ROBINSON AND RICHMOND. 165
8. ACTITIS MACULARIA (Linnaeus).SPOTTED SANDPIPER.Mr. Lyon obtiiiiiod a female at Macuto August 4.Famil}^ CRACID^.
9. CRAX DAUBENTONI Gray.DAUBENTON'S CURASSOW.Local name: Pauxi.None of these were seen in a wild state, l)ut three were purchasedat La Guaira and brought back to the Zoological Park in Washington.In two of these the beak was solid black, but the third had the baseclear light yellow. They were said to be quite common about 5 mileseast of San Julian. They have the habit of erecting and throwing for-ward their tine, recurved crest. In captivity the}- are a uuich quieterbird than the guacharaca, their principal note being a long, descendingwhistle, almost exactl}^ like the sound made when the air brakes on atrain are released.While at San Julian the natives several times reported that they hadseen some "camates,"a bird described as midwa}^ in size between apauxi and a guacharaca.
lo. ORTALIS RUFICAUDA Jardine.GUACHARACA.A few very shy individuals were seen up the ravine east of LaGuaira. At San Julian they were plentiful on the wooded slopesaround the valley. Plight were secured here, of which five were pre-served, and in addition six of various ages were purchased and broughtback alive. At San Julian they uttered their characteristic noisy criesat day])reak and at sunset. They usually go in pairs. When theyare appi-oached they keep up an incessant call of alarm, yet all thetime conceal themselves in the tree tops with great cunning, and it isnot at all easy to get within range.It is difficult to convey an idea of the resonant, vibrant, and trumpet-like (luality of their notes. The tone is somewhat like that of a g-uinea-fowl, l)ut much more voluminous. The call note is uttered by the male,who is aided b}- a peculiar development of the windpipe. This, ])eforepassing into the thorax, runs down between the skin and fiesh of thebreast to the lower end of the steriuun. thence back to the neck.As far as was observed they kept strictly to the branches of thetrees. The stomachs of those killed were filled with the buds andblossoms of a small but very ])r(^tty white and yellow passion flower.They also feed on plantains and othei- fruit. They are much hunted
166 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxiv.for food, their flesh being- white and of fine flavor. When eapturedyoung' the}" are easily domesticated, and associate freely with chickens.They are continually erecting and throwing forward their frontalcrest. They have under the throat two oblong- bare spots. Theseare red in life, and on hot days, when the birds are panting, hang downlike wattles. The beak and tarsi are blue, and skin of face dark blue.Family COLUMBID^.
II. COLUMBA PLUMBEA Vieillot.WINE-COLORED PIGEON.Local name: Falta pnco, frniii the fancied reMmbhince of its call offour notes to those words.One specimen, a female, was obtained at San Julian on August 3. Itdifi^ers from the other doves and pigeons seen at that place in its note,which is a whistle and not a coo, and in the color of its irides, whichare light grayish blue, instead of reddish 3^ellow. Its flesh is said tohave an unpleasant, bitter taste.Tarsi pink, lids red.
12. LEPTOTILA INSULARIS Richmond.MARGARITAN DOVE.Local name: Paloma, i. e., dove.Abundant. This is the common object of pursuit of the gunners,and numbers are caught by the children in coop traps with flgure-fourtriggers and in snares of horse hair. Many fledglings were seen atSan Julian. They difler very markedly in color from the adults, beingmuch darker and mottled, the back bronzy-green and purple in places.Feet purplish in the young. Adults have the irides yellow, feetreddish.Three specimens were secured, which are to be referred to theMargaritan form, although they average a trifle larger in wing- meas-urements. Family PERISTERID^F.
13. SCARDAFELLA RIDGWAYI Richmond.RIDGWAY'S SCALED DOVE.A few were seen in the dry cactus region along the coast at themouth of the San Julian Valley. Their notes give them the name
"potoco." One specimen, a male, was shot July 11.This is the same as the Margaritan form. Those who do not wishto recognize this bird as difterent from that of Brazil will still have touse the name ridgwat/i, as the term xqaaiii(>><<i is preoccupied.
NO. 1247. BIRDS OF VENEZUELA?ROBINSON AND RICHMOND. 167
14. COLUMBIGALLINA PASSERINA' (Linnaeus).GROUND DOVE.LocM name: Tortoht, i. c, tnHle dove.Very abundant. They were nesting in July and August and a num-ber of nests were seen with the usual complement of two eggs. Thenests are not placed in trees as a rule but rather upon brush heaps, intussocks of coarse grass, on bowlders, or on fallen logs. Nests foundat San Julian on July 30 and July 31, both on prostrate logs, con-tained pipped eggs. A pair built on the stump of a papaya treewithin 20 feet of the door of our hut and hatched early in August.'The young, naked at first, soon assumed a coat of sulphur-yellowdown, which with their purplish skin made them unpleasant lookingobjects. 15. GEOTRYGON VENEZUELENSIS Salvador!.VENEZUELAN QUAIL DOVE.Local luime: Paloma de monte, i. e. , wood dove.The peculiar booming coo of this dove was occasionally heard atSan Julian, but only one specimen was secured, an immature female.Irides bluish, feet purplish.This specimen. is quite young, but without much doubt is of theform called venezuelensis by Salvador!.Family CATHARTID^.
16. CATHARTES AURA (Linnaeus).TURKEY VULTURE.Not very common. Only a few seen,17. CATHARISTA URUBU (Vieillot).BLACK VULTURE.Very abundant, especially around the slaughter pens east of La(iuaira. Family BUTEONID^.
18. BUTEO ABBREVIATUS Cabanis.ZONE-TAILED HAWK.The only specimen obtained, a female, was brought in alive at LaGuaira on August 12 by a native, who, discovering it roosting the nightbefore, had crippled it with a stone. Irides brown, cere and tarsiyellow. Several were seen near Macuto.iProc. U. S. Nat. Mas., XVIII, 1895, p. 659.
168 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxiv.
19. MICRASTUR MELANOLEUCUS (Vieillot).BLACK AND WHITE MICRASTUR.One speciiiien, a male, secured at San Julian on July 28, It was infull molt, chang'ino- above from a brown and rufous to a ])laek andwhite plumage. Its stomach contained a sparrow {ArrenioiKJ'p.s).Cere greenish, irides brown, tarsi 3^ellow,20. RUPORNIS MAGNIROSTRIS (Gmelin).LARGE-BILLED RUPORNIS.This noisy hawk was common in the dryer foothills at La Guairaand at San Julian. A female shot on July 19 had its stomach filledwith a mass of grasshoppers, crickets, roaches, and other insects, andparts of several scorpions. Its cere, lids, irides, base of lower mandi-ble, and tarsi were 3'ellow, A male shot Jul}^ 26 had orange cere itndtarsi. Its stomach was tilled with a mass of insects and with parts ofsome small striped lizards. The diet of grasshoppers gives to thesebirds a characteristic odor which clings to their skins for some timeafter they have lieen cured.21. LEUCOPTERNIS ALBICOLLIS (Latham).WHITE HAWK.Several of these line hawks were seen at San Julian, but only onewas obtained, a female taken July 16. Its stomach contained a variedassortment?pieces of a snake, crabs, beetles, and grasshoppers. OnJuly 31 one was seen flying around its nest, a Inilk}' mass of sticks inthe top of an immense thorny-trunked tree.Irides light brown, tarsi yellow.Family FALCONIDiE.
22. GAMPSONYX SWAINSONI Vigors.SWAINSON'S PEARL KITE.At San Julian about sunset on July 29 this small hawk, which wasat first taken for a gray kingbird, was seen to light in the dead topof a small tree near the road. On Ijeing shot it started oti' as ifuntouched, but after going some 80 yards spread its wings and settledgently to the earth, where it was found dead. Upon picking it up Iwas at once struck by its coloration, the absence of V)ars or stripes onits plumage, the glistening white luider surface of its wings, its rela-tively heav}' feet with the tarsi feathered halfway to the toes, theheron-like powder down patches on its hips, and its crimson irides.Its cere was green, tarsi yellow. This was the only one seen, although
NO. 1247. BIRDS OF VENE7AJELA?ROBINSON AND RICHMOND. 169the natives stated that it was not rare. It was a female and musthave been an industrious hunter, as its stomach contained no lessthan 5 of the common small striped lizards {Cnemidoph/rui).Dr. Sharpe ^ quotes Chondrohierax rufifrons Lesson (first describedas Dmhdloi) rufifronH Lesson) as a synonym of this species. Thisname is, however, referable to Falco uncinatais Temminck, whichspecies should properh^ be called ChondroJd&i^ax lincinatus^ as Beger-hmus Kaup, 1845, is antedated by Chondrohierax Lesson, 1843.
23. FALCO ALBOGULARIS Daudin.WHITE-THROATED BAT FALCON.A few of these beautiful little falcons were seen around San Julian.They were all in the tops of dead trees high up on the mountainsides. A female was shot on July 19 whose stomach contained frag-ments of a beetle and the skull and other parts of a Molossus ohscurus^one of the swiftest flying bats. Irides brown, lids, cere, and tarsiyellow. The striking efl'ect of the clear dark eyes with the brilliantgamboge lids against a background of dark plumage is lost in thestufled skin. Family BUBONID^.
24. MEGASCOPS BRASILIANUS (Gmelin).BRAZILIAN SCREECH OWL.A pair of screech owls were obtained at San Julian on July 26.They were in poor plumage. Irides ^^ellow.Other owls were seen but not secured, among them a small owl,probably Glcmcidium^ and a very large owl seen flying at dusk.Family PSITTACID^F.Parrots of the genera ^lr?, Amazona^ Oonuru.% and Psittacida wereseen at San Julian but none were secured.Family CUCLJLID^F.
25. CROTOPHAGA ANI Linnaeus.AN I.Iiical )i(ime: Garrajmtmi, i. c, tick-eater, from (Is alleged liabitof entim/ the ticks on cattle.Common in open land about La Guaira and at San Julian. Usuallyseen in small bands of six to a dozen individuals, and frequently seenwalking about almost under the feet of grazing cattle.
^British ^Museum Catalogue of Birds, I, p. ;^40.
170 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxiv.
26. PIAYA CAYANA THERMOPHILA (Sclater).SQUIRREL CUCKOO.Local name: Rabo de ardito, i. e. , squirrel (ail.A few seen at La Guaira. Abundant at San Julian. The stomachsof all killed were packed to distension with insects, mainly caterpillars.Beak and lids 3'ellowish g-reen, tarsi bluish, irides red, inside of mouthblack. 27. COCCYZUS MELANOCORYPHUS Vieillot.DARK-HEADED CUCKOO.One specimen obtained at La Guaira, June 25, 1896.Family RAMPHASTID^.28. AULACORHAMPHUS ERYTHROGNATHUS Gould.RED-BILLED GREEN TOUCAN.Local name: Pico de franco, i. e. , bottle beak.Fairl}^ common at San Julian. Tarsi olive, irides brown.Toucans of the genus Ramphastos are known to the natives at SanJulian, who call them "Dios te de."Family TROGON1D.F:.
.29. TROGON COLLARIS Vieillot.COLLARED TROGON.Local name: Pavita, i. e., IHtle peacock.Common at San Julian, and easily found by its clear, loud note.Beak yellow, lids red. The beak of the female is shaded with brownish.Family GALBULID^F:.30. GALBULA RUFICAUDA Cuvier.KUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR.Common at La Guaira and at San Julian. They nest in holes likebank swallows. The natives regard it as a large-sized humming birdand call it '"tocuso de inontana," mountain humming bird.Family ALCEDINID.FI31. CERYLE AMERICANA (Gmelin).SMALLEST GREEN KINGFISHER.Local name: Martin pescador.Common along the small streams at La Guaira, Macuto, and SanJulian.
NO. 1217. BIRDS OF VENEZUELA?ROBINSON AND RICHMOND. 171Family PICID^E.
32. CHLORONERPES RUBIGINOSUS ( Swainson).SWAINSON'S (JREEN WOODPECKER.Two were shot as they were feeding on allig-ator pears in the coffeeplantation at San Julian. Others were seen.
33. MELANERPES SUBELEGANS (Bonaparte).BONAPARTE'S WOODPECKER.Abundant. A pair had their nest in the top of a dead papaya treein front of the hut at San Julian.
34. CAMPEPHILUS MALHERBII Gray.MALHERBE'S IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER.Local name: Carpiniero, i. e., carpenter, the general name for all ivoodpeckers.Five or six were seen at San Julitin, but only one, a female, secured.The}" were usuall}^ seen in loft}- dead trees around the edges ofmouTitain clearings. They have a loud, discordant note. Irides yel-low, tarsi bluish green, soles of feet yellow.A piculet {Plcumrius f) was seen excavating its nest in a dead branchat Cucuruti on July 7, and others were seen at San Julian.Family CAPRBIULGID^E.
35. ANTROSTOMUS RUFUS (Boddaert).RUFOUS WHIP-P( )OR-WILL.One specimen, a female, secured at San Julian. Other species ofgoat-suckers were seen.Family TROC'HILTD.E.36. GLAUCIS HIRSUTUS (Gmelin).HAIRY HERMIT.Quite common at La Guaira and at San Julian. Several nests wereseen, all of which were woven to the under side of a tatter at theextreme tip of a banana leaf. A nest taken at La Guaira, on July 4,contained 2 fresh eggs. Another at San Julian, on July 11, contained2 young, several days old. On July 27 a female was seen ])uilding.At San Julian an individual largely blotched with w^hite on the backand rump was seen several times.]\Iandi])le bright yellow, not flesh color as stated by Elliot.
172 PROCEEDINGS OF TtTE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxiv.
37. DOLEROMYA FALLAX (Bourcier).BUFF-BREASTED HUMMING BIRD.One specimen taken at San Julian in an extensive cactus thicket onthe dry lowlands. I do not think that this species is ever found out-side of such localities.The characters given for the Margaritan form (of which we havefifteen or more examples) are perfectl}^ good, unA pallida is readily tobe distinguished from falla;r.
38. PHiETHORNIS AUGUSTI (Bourcier).SALLE'S HERMIT.Seen in the ravines at La Guaira, at San Julian, and at Cucuruti.On July 24 at San Julian, in search of bats, I crept on hands and kneesinto a sort of cave made by an immense slab of stone leaning againstanother. At somedistance from the entrance an object dangling fromthe rocky roof brushed against my head. Striking a match to examineit, I was surprised to find it the nest of a humming bird. The suspend-ing cord, composed of twined spider's webs, was fastened to a pro-I'ecting splinter of stone, and the nest hung almost a foot below. Tokeep it upright and to balance the weight of the bird, quite a mass ofmaterial was woven below and on the opposite side of the cord.It contained two partly incubated eggs. The parent was secured. Afew days later a second nest, similarly situated in a cave and contain-ing a newly hatched young, was found.Feet flesh color and lower uiandihle vermilion, not flesh color asstated by Elliot.The nest of a species of PJiwthorms, probably P. supe7'cillosus^ wasfound at La Guaira on July 5. It was woven to the under side of aleaf. The bird was shot, but fell in a tangle of vines and was lost.
39. PYGMORNIS LONGUEMAREI (Lesson).LONGUEMARE'S PIGMY HERMIT.Common at San Julian. Basal half of mandiWe ])right yellow, notflesh color. 40. HYPUROPTILA BUFFONI (Lesson).BUFFON'S PLUMETEER.Common at La (hiaira and at San Julian.41. CHRYSOLAMPIS MOSCHITUS (Linnaeus).RUBY and TOPAZ HUMMING BIRD.One seen at Cucuruti July 7.
NO. 1247. BIRDS OF VENEZUELA?ROBINSON AND RICHMOND. 173
42. AMIZILIS FELICI2E (Lesson).FELICIA'S HUMMING 151 KD.Abundant at La Giiaira and at San Julian. A nest saddled on al)ranch and containing- one egg was found at La Guaira on July 4. OnJuly T) a female of this species was seen to make, in the absence of itsowner, several visits to the nest of a PluvthoruU and each time rol) itof a poi'tion of its lining.43. CHLOROSTILBON CARIBB^A Lawrence.ATALA'S EMERALD.Abundant in the flat coast region.Family PIPRID.E.
44. CHIROXIPHIA LANCEOLATA ( Wagler)
.
LANCE-TAILED MANAKIN.Fairly common in the well wooded and shaded ravines at La Guaii-aand at San Julian. A nest with 2 eggs was taken at La Guaira onJulv 25, 1895. Family TYRANNID^.45. MUSCIVORA TYRANNUS (Linnaeus).FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER.A number seen at San Julian.
46. TYRANNUS DOMINICENSIS (Gmelin).GRAY KING BIRD.Abundant at San Julian.
47. PITANGUS DERBIANUS RUFIPENNIS ( Lafresnaye).RUFOUS-WINGED DERBY FLYCATCHER.One male obtained at San Julian Juh' lf>. Others seen.
48. LEPTOPOGON SUPERCILIARIS Cabanis.WHITE-BROWED FLYCATCHER.One specimen taken at San Julian on August 5. Tarsi blue.Has l)een previously recorded from Venezuela on one occasion, byChapman and Phelps.^ 49. POGONOTRICCUS sp.An immature specimen taken at La Guaira in 1895.^lAuk., XIV, 1897, p. 369. ^ Proc. U. S. NatMus., XVIII, 1895, p. 684.
174 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vouxxiv.
50. PLATYRHYNCHUS MYSTACEUS INSULARIS (Allen).TOBAGO BROAD-BILLED FLYCATCHER.One taken at La Giiaini in 1895.^
51. TODIROSTRUM CINEREUM ( Linnxus)
.
BLACK-CROWNED TODY FLYCATCHER.Common. Family FURNARIID.E.52. SYNALLAXIS STRIATIPECTUS Chapman.STREAKED-BREASTED SPINETAIL.One obtained and several seen at San Julian, August 5.Family DENDROCOLAPTID^E.
53. SITTASOMUS PHELPSI Chapman.PHELPS'S CREEPER.One female taken at San Julian, July 18.
54. DENDROPLEX PICIROSTRIS (Lafresnaye).white:-throated tree creeper.A numb(;r seen at San Juliiln. Tarsi gTeenish.Family FORMICARIID^E.
55. THAMNOPHILUS DOLIATUS (Linnaeus).BARRED ANT SHRIKE.Abundant at La Guaira and at San Julian.56. THAMNOPHILUS MELANONOTUS Sclater.BLACK-BACKED ANT SHRIKE.One specimen taken at La Guaira, Jul}' 5.57. FORMICIVORA INTERMEDIA Cabanis. 'INTERMEDIATE ANT WREN.Abundant in the scrub.
58. GRALLARIA sp.A specimen, apparentlj' a member of this genus, was shot at SanJulian July 19, but was too badly injured to be preserved.iProc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XVIII, 1895, p. 684.
NO 1247. BIRDS OF VEXEZrELA?ROBINSON AND RICHMOND. 175Family CORVID^.59. XANTHOURA C^RULEOCEPHALA (Dubois).BLUE-HEADED GREEN JAY.Loral iiamr: (^wrre querre.Abundant at San Julian. Found in small flocks in the coflfec plan-tations. Many of their notes are like those of our blue ]'A,y.Family ICTERID^E.60. OSTINOPS DECUMANUS (Pallas).COMMON OROPENDOLA.Load name: Conoto.Seen at Cucuruti and in large flocks at San Julian. The variation insize of the individuals of a flock is remarkable. They have a strong,disagreeable odor, which persists for some time in 'the stufi'ed skin.61. OSTINOPS OLEAGINEUS Sclater.VENEZUELAN GREEN OROPENDOLA.Local name: Conoto.Large straggling flocks were seen in the coflee plantations at Sanrluliiln. The}^ have the same strong smell and vary in size as do thepreceding. Thej^ have a loud, yelping note, and an alarm note like thecackle of a startled hen. Both species were in very poor plumage.Feet green, beak light greenish-white.
62. ICTERUS AURICAPILLUS Cassin.GOLDEN-CROWNED ORIOLE.Local name: Gonzalito.Abundant. Family FRINGILLID^.63. ARREMONOPS VENE2UELENSIS Ridgway.VENEZUELAN GROUND-SPARROW.Local name: Rayadito.Abundant. Eight specimens were taken in traps baited with bananasand set for small mammals.64. VOLATINIA JACARINI SPLENDENS iVieillot).GLOSSY GRASSQUIT.Abundant. 65. EUETHEIA OMISSA (Jardine).VENEZUELAN GRASSQUIT.Abundant.
176 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxiv.
Family TANAGRID^].66. TANAGRA GLAUCOCOLPA (Cabanis).VENEZUELAN BLUE TANAGER.The ))luo tanagers seen were probably of this form. The}^ Avereal)imdant. 67. PIRANGA ARDENS Sclater.BLACK-LORED SCARLET TANAGER.Local name: Cardinal de montana, riiountam cardhnd.A male taken at San Julian August 8, and several others seen thesame da3^ 68. TACHYPHONUS MELALEUCUS (Sparrman).BLACK AND WHITE TANAGER.Common. 69. SALTATOR OLIVASCENS Cabanis.GREY-BREASTED SALTATOR.A few seen at San Julian, where one was shot as it fed on a ripepapaya fruit. Family CCEREBIDyJ^].
70. CHLOROPHANES SPIZA (Linnaeus).GREEN HONEY CREEPER.One specimen in full molt taken at San Julian Jul}^ 26. Iridesreddish, tarsi dark green, lower mandible and base of upper yellow.
71. CYANERPES CYANEA EXIMIA (Cabanis).VENEZUELAN GUITGUIT.Common in the forests at San Julian.
72. CCEREBA LUTEOLA Cabanis.VENEZUELAN HONEY CREEPER.Abundant in the dry coast region.Family HIRUNDINID^F.
73. PROGNE CHALYBEA (Gmelin).STEELY-BACKED MARTIN.Very abundant in La Guaira, where they nested in the crevicesalonp' the eaves of the tiled roofs.
No.ij-iT. niRDS OF VEXEZUELA?noBIXSON AM) lUClIMoXD. 177
74. ATTICORA CYANOLEUCA (Vieillot).BLUI'; AND WIIITK SWALLOW.Very uhundaiit in and around La (Juaira.Family VIKP:()NID.l^:.
75. VIREO CHIVI AGILIS ( Lichtenstein).AGILE VIKEO.C-oininoii. 76. HYLOPHILUS AURANTIIFRONS Lawrence.GULDEN-FRONTED HYLOPHILUS.One specimen taken at San Julian August 5. Tarsi very })ale blue,lower mandible yellowish flesh.Family MNIOTILTID.5^].
77. BASILEUTERUS FLAVEOLUS Baird.YELLOW GROUND WARBLER.One specimen obtained at La Guaira, where it flitted about in thebushes close to the ground much like a redstart, apparently somewhatnorth of its previously known range.Family TROC^LODYTID^.
78. RHODINOCICHLA ROSEA (Lesson).ROSE-BREASTED WREN.Local iiaiue: Sdrld sarta.Seen at La Guaira and San Julian. It has a wonderfull}" loud andclear song. It is frequently seen on the ground scratching among thefallen leaves. One specimen, a male, obtained.This is the true Furnarius roseus of Lesson. The Central Auun-icani)ird is (luite different and is apparently unnamed.
79. THRYOTHORUS RUTILUS Vieillot.RUFOUS-BREASTED WREN.One o))tained at La Guaira in 1S!).5.80. TROGLODYTES RUFULUS Cabanis.WHITE-BREASTED HOUSE WREN.Abundant at La Guaira, nesting at the l)ase of the leaf stalks of thecocoa i)alms.Troc. N. M. vol. xxiv?01 VI
178 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxiv.
8i. MICROCERCULUS PECTORALIS, new species.SCRUB WREN.When at La Giiaira on July 25, 1895, I .saw walking about in theholes and crannies under a nia.s.s of overhanging roots in the ravineeast of the town, a curious-looking bird which I recorded in my diaryat the time as l)eing like a chocolate-colored, tailless Carolina wren. Ihad only my insect net and could not secure it. Imagine my surprisewhen, on July 2, five years later, I saw under a heap of l)rush, withinten feet of the original spot, another specimen of the same ])ird. Thisone I secured. It crept about slowly among the roots and twigs, didnot use its wings, and moved more like a mouse than a 1)ird.This individual does not agree with an}^ of the described species,although it appears to be related to M. squaimdatKS of Sclater andSalvin. It is, however, not nearly so white below, and the colors ofthe upper parts are darker, judging from the plate.
^
It may be described as follows: Type, female adult. No. 175251,U.S.N.M.; La Guaira, July 2, 1900; Wirt Robinson, collector's No.1451. Above Mars brown, uniform on back, rump, and upper tail-coverts, but feathers of head Avith slightly darker centers; tail andwing quills clove brown, some of the latter bordered with the color ofthe back. Wing-coverts like the back, some of the innermost greatercoverts with minute russet spots. Throat white, the lower part finelyand rather indistinctly barred with grayish brown; sides of head andforeneck drab, feathers of the latter part tipped with wood 1)rown;sides of breast, flanks, under tail-coverts, and abdomen nuuinny l)rown,more inclining to Prout's brown on the latter; the flanks and undertail-coverts with more or less indistinct blackish bars; center of thebreast, Prout's brown with V-shaped and U-shaped grayish whitemarkings; under wing-coverts wood brown. Bill and feet blackishin the dried skin, basal part of mandible paler. Wing, 57; tail, 20;tarsus, 23; culmen, 19 millimeters.Family SYLVIID.E.82. POLIOPTILA PLUMBICEPS Lawrence.LAWRENCE'S GNAT CATCHER.Conunon in the scrub of the dry coast lands.Family TURDID^.83. ? MERULA FUMIGATA Lichtenstein.SABIAN THRUSH.One young ]>ir(l, ol)tained at San Julian July 17, agrees moi'(^ nearlywith M. fmnlxjata than with any other species.
' Proc. Zool. Soc. Loml., lS7;i, pi. vi.