486 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. io4 



The collector's field notes for Barcelona, Anzodtegui (seacoast), 

 are as follows: 



February 19, 1950: One seen. 



May 28, 1950: Pair seen together several times. Nesting here? 

 May 25, 1951: One — apparently nesting? Flew off nest or from branch near 

 nest; however, did not scold. 



Januarj' 26, 1952: One seen. Suspected nest examined, no sign of use. 



Although it was not possible to take specimens, the identifications 

 are positive — in each case the bird was observed with binoculars and in 

 good light. To date the collector has not been able to offer definite 

 information, but it does appear possible that this form may be breed- 

 ing on the Venezuelan mainland. The pair together, the relatively 

 late dates, and the presence near a large, ospreylike nest, which was 

 not situated in the open where the bird might normally perch, all 

 suggest this possibility. Otherwise the osprey is known to breed no 

 farther south (in the Western Hemisphere) than Yucatdn and British 

 Honduras, although it has been recorded as wintering as far south as 

 Peril, Paraguay, and Argentina. However, in Colombia, it has been 

 observed practically throughout the year, but no indications of its 

 breeding there are reported (de Schauensee, 1949, p. 403). 



Occasional singles of this form were seen at Cantaura and Caicara. 



Family Falconidae: Falcons 



Daptrius americanus aniericanus (Boddacrt) 



Falco americanus Boddaert, Table des planches enlumin6ez d'histoire naturelle, 

 1783, p. 25 (ex Daubenton, pi. 417; no type locality = Cayenne, ex Buffon). 

 1 9 , Caicara, June 5, 1952; gonads slightly enlarged; iris brown; bill dull yellow; 

 cere dull blue; face and feet dull red; gizzard contained some small, sticky, red- 

 orange fruit (strangler fig? or mistletoe?). 



This hawk was found in roving bands in the sparse deciduous sea- 

 sonal forest and the denser lowland seasonal forest at Caicara; it was 

 unknown at Cantaura. The flocks were very irregular in their appear- 

 ance, present in one area for a short period and then absent again. 

 They are birds of the treetops, difficult to find except when calling, 

 but the presence of a flock is soon betrayed by the loud calls repeated 

 by one and then another cacao-ca-ca-ca-cao. The local name is "cacao." 



The gizzard contents of hawks are interesting as their food habits 

 cover a wide range. Our example of this species was found to have 

 eaten fruit, that of Leptodon had eaten an entire wasps' nest; a Milvago 

 chimachima often came to the collector's food station to eat bread 

 soaked in milk, not to mention such well known examples as Rostr- 

 hamus eating snails, and Busarcllus feeding on fish. 



