l62 BROOKLYN INSTITUTE MUSEUM. SCIENCE BULLETIN 2. 6. 



bea, Iridoprocne albiventer, Diplochelidon mclanoleuca and perhaps other 

 species, arriving at or above one of the nearby islands of green tree tops, 

 where already there seemed to be tens of thousands of birds wheeling 

 and circling about. The great masses of winged bits of life seemed 

 to be influenced by a single mind, rolling like a, wind driven storm 

 cloud, first to one end of the island and then to the other. Now rising- 

 high in the air, the next moment dropping almost into the tree-tops, 

 then rising and circling again, the moving mass would resolve itself 

 into a living cone descending rapidly point downward with a roar 

 like a whirlwind. During this movement thousands appeared to 

 drop into the tree-tops, then all orderly formation would be lost and 

 the remaining multitudes returned to the rolling circling mass that 

 marshalled its forces for another plunge toward the tree-tops. Dark- 

 ness and the black angry clouds of the coming storm hid the last acts 

 of the bird drama and we crept beneath the carosa^ of our dugout canoe, 

 where protected from the storm we were soon lulled to sleep by the 

 rocking of the boat. 



Atticora fasciata (Gmelin). 

 Hiriindo fasciata Gmelin Syst. Nat. I. 1788. p. 1022 (Cayenne). 

 Atticora fasciata Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 15. 



This species was not collected on the Orinoco proper, but 

 examples were sent from the Caura River district to the Tring 

 Museum Ijy Klages (Berlepsch and Hartert) ; and in the American 

 Museum collection are examples, also collected by Klages, from the 

 Mato River (at its entrance into the Caura), taken in January. 



Iridoprocne albiventer (Boddaert). 

 Hirundo albiventer Bodd., Tab. PI. Enl. 1783. p. 32. 

 Tachycineta albiventer Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 14. 



Common along the river, frequenting the localities where there is 

 little current, these birds may be seen sailing tirelessly back and 

 forth close over the surface of the water. 



I found this species breeding at Altagracia in February, 1898. 

 Nests were placed over the water in the hollow trunks and branches 



'The roof or cover of the roofed-over part of a river canoe, in form like that of the canvas top of a 

 covered wagon, usually consists of a light frame of bent poles having the two ends securely tied to the oppo- 

 site edges of the canoe, the hoops being held in position above by other light poles bound on lengthwise of 

 the canoe; this frame work is then thatched commonly with leaves of some species of palm. 



