CHIJRRIE: ORNITHOLOGY OF THE ORINOCO REGION. 373 



Dendrocygna discolor Sclater & Salvin. 

 Dendrocygna discolor Scl. & Salv., Nomencl. Av. Neotr. 1873. PP- 129, 



161; Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 131. 



Native name Giiiriri. Abundant. This and the following species, 

 Alopochen jubatus, are the most common ducks found on the Orinoco. 



Alopochen jubatus (Spix). 

 Anser jubatus Spix, Av. Bras. II. 1825. p. 84. PI. 108. 

 Alopochen jithatus Berlepsch & Hartert. p. 131. 



Native name Carrctero. Abundant along the banks of the Orinoco 

 and its tributaries. 



Eye seal brown; bill black reddish at angle of commisure; feet 

 vermilion. 



This is the most abundant species of "Duck" in the Orinoco region. 

 Like the Pato real, it is frequently seen in a state of semi-domestication 

 about the native houses, but I do not know of its breeding. 



The males at the beginning of the mating season — December and 

 January — fight some terrific battles, and where a large flock is assem- 

 bled, in some marshy spot near the river, the noise of battle may be 

 heard for a long distance. The blows of the wings against one another 

 and the constant loud guttural "honking" of the contending birds make a 

 deafening racket. The females feed quietly, apparently not taking 

 much interest in the fray. 



This species like the Tree Duck {D. discolor) nests in hollow trees. 



Nettion brasiliense (Gmelin). 

 Anas hrasiliensis Gm., Syst. Nat. I. 1788. p. 517. 



Nettion brasiliense Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 131. 



Native name Pato A:::ulijo. Not com-mon at points visited on the 

 Orinoco proper, but abundant about the marshes in the vicinity of Las 

 Guacas, San Feliz River, during May, 1907. 



On the Orinoco this species was noted at Bolivar, Altagracia. Cai- 

 cara and Ouiribana de Caicara. 



LARIDAE— GULLS. TERNS, ETC. 



Phaethusa chloropoda (Vieillot). 

 Sterna chloropoda Vieillot, N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. XXXII: 1818: 171 

 (Paraguay). 



