cherrie;: ornithology of the Orinoco region. 209 



While the set of eggs and nest above described were being collected 

 both parent birds were present and much excited. No other nests of 

 the species were found in the same neighborhood. 



In the American Museum is a series of birds of this species col- 

 lected at Maripa on the Caura River by Klages during February, May 

 and June. 



Xanthosomus icterocEphalus (Linnaeus). 



Oriolus ictcroccphalus L., Syst. Nat. ed. 12. I. 1766. p. 163. 

 Xanthosomus icterocephalus Cabanis, Mus. Hein., i, 185 1. p. 189. 

 Agelacus icterocephalus Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 32. 



Fresh birds have the eye seal brown ; bill slate black ; feet black. 

 Common in flocks at Altagracia and at Quiribana de Caicara, from 

 November to January ; noted at Caicara once in April. An adult female 

 was collected at Ciudad Bolivar in April ; an adult male was taken near 

 the mouth of the San Feliz River on the Cuchivero River the 15th of 

 May. Observed in small numbers above the falls of Maipures during 

 December. Klages sent a pair to the American Museum that were col- 

 lected on the Caura River near the mouth of the river Meta in January. 



Sturnella magna meridionalis Sclater. 

 Sturnella meridionalis Scl., Ibis, 1861. p. 179. 

 Sturnella magna meridionalis Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 32. 



Native name Mochila vacia. In life the colors are : eye seal-brown ; 

 bill black above, mandible and basal part of cutting edge of maxilla 

 plumbeous grey, tip of mandible blackish slate ; feet drab grey. Com- 

 mon on the savannas. Habits similar to those of our own Meadow- 

 larks. While Sturnella is common on open savanna districts bordering 

 the river all the way from below Ciudad Bolivar to the region above the 

 falls, the birds found on the upper river, from the mouth of the Meta 

 onward, are decidedly smaller and darker colored than those found on 

 the middle stretches of the river. 



Leistes militaris (Linnaeus). 



Tanagra militaris L., Syst. Nat. ed. 12. I. 1766. pp. 162, 316. 

 Leistes militaris Berlepsch & Hartert. p. 33. 



Common on the savannas but rather difficult to approach. Not 

 observed farther up the river than the mouth of the Apure. 



