480 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL IMUSEUM vol. 104 



Family Colymbidae: Grebes 



Colymbus dominicus speciosus (Lynch Arribalzaga) 



Podiceps speciosus Lynch Arribalzaga, La Lej', Buenos Aires, July 2, 1877, p. 1 

 (Baradero, Buenos Aires, Argentina). 



In addition to the data recorded in our earlier paper, the collector 

 reports two apparently undescribed call notes of this grebe, a nasal 

 yank sui-prisingly similar to that of the red-breasted nuthatch {Sitta 

 canadensis), and a weak chattering note. 



Family Ardeidae: Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns 



Bubulcus ibis ibis (Linnaeus) 



Ardea ibis Linnaeus, Systems naturae, ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 144 (Egypt). 



We recorded a Venezuelan example of this heron in our earlier 

 paper. It has since been steadily increasing around the collecting 

 stations. From 1945 thi'ough 1950 only one flock of 4 individuals was 

 seen, that recorded by us. In 1951 the bird was recorded three times: 

 2 individuals, February, Caicara; a single, August, Cantaura; a single, 

 October, Caicara. The 1952 records are: 10, August, about 10 kilo- 

 meters south of Urica; a single, September, Cantaura; 5, October, 

 Caicara; 10, December, Caicara. In January 1953 a flock of 6 was 

 seen at Caicara and a flock of 8 about 10 kilometers south of Urica, 

 Anzoategui. 



The compact flock formation, the short necks, and the rapid 

 running of the members of the flocks as they chase their prey (gen- 

 erally grasshoppers?) serve to identify this bird at a glance. Usually, 

 but not always, it was found in the vicinity of water, but always on the 

 dry land; it was never observed hunting or wading in the water. On 

 two occasions the birds were seen following cattle. 



Cochlearius cochlearius cochlearius (Linnaeus) 



Cancroma Cochlearia Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 233 

 (Guiana) . 

 1, unsexed, Caicara, March 8, 1952. 



Taken at Caicara; bUl, foot, and wing saved to establish the record. 

 Considered a very rare and strange heron by all local hunters who 

 examined the bird. Otherwise unrecorded in the study area, although 

 widely distributed throughout the American tropics. 



