Aug. 1922. Game Birds — Osgood & Conover. 43 



Gallinago nobilis Sclater. 



Paramo de Tama, 4. 



The only snipe seen in the Merida region was observed, but not 

 secured, at Paramo Tambor April 15, and may have been of this 

 species. Four specimens in Field Museum were taken Mch. 2-5, 1910 

 in an open grassy swamp at an elevation of about 7000 ft., on Paramo 

 de Tama. 



Jacana nigra Gmelin. 



Rio Cogollo, 2 ; Catatumbo, 2 ; Maracaibo, i ; Encontrados, 4 ; Rio 

 Aurare, i. 



All specimens from the Maracaibo region are in the maroon-backed 

 phase called by Sclater /. melanopygia, but which Ridgway (Bull, U. 

 S. Nat. Mus. No, 50, pt, VII, p. 16) considers a color phase of J. nigra. 



Jacanas were common around a small cienega near the Rio Cogollo, 

 and at Lagunillas, where they fairly swarmed. It seems significant 

 that no birds of the black-backed phase were noted, although no special 

 watch was kept for them. 



Oedicnemus bistriatus vocifer L'Herminier. 

 Rio Cogollo, 2. 

 Seen only on the savannas near the Rio Cogollo where they were 

 found in pairs scattered over the open country. During the heat of 

 the day, they sought the shade of some low tree. In the city of Mara- 

 caibo these birds are often kept as pets around the houses or in the 

 stores because of their usefulness in keeping down cockroaches and 

 such vermin. In the house next to the one in which we had our head- 

 quarters in Maracaibo, was one of these birds. Morning and evening 

 its weird cry could be heard consisting of a succession of short sharp 

 notes, starting slowly and gradually decreasing the intervals until they 

 Could not be distinguished. It sounded like a very fair imitation of 

 the exhaust of a motor boat, beginning slowly and gradually increas- 

 ing in speed. 



The two specimens were taken on February 16, the female contain- 

 ing very large eggs without shells. 

 Local name, Alcaraban. 



Aramus scolopaceus Gmelin. 

 Lagunillas, i ; Catatumbo, 2. 

 This species was first seen at the mouth of the Rio Guachi, where 



