496 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. io4 



often spending five to ten minutes inside before taking leave. The 

 nest was destroyed about a week later, making further observations 

 impossible. 



Brotogcris chrysopterus chrysopterus (Linnaeus) 



Psittacus chrysopterus Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 149 

 (India, error, Guiana designated as type locality by Brabourne and Chubb, 

 Birds of South America, 1912, p. 88). 



1 cf, Quiriquire, September 11, 1949; gonads small; bill flesh color; iris dark; 

 eye ring whitish; feet pale blue-green; skull well ossified. 

 Adult bird, molting the outer remiges. 



This little parrot was collected in the heavy lowland forest at Quiri- 

 quire, the only place where it was encountered. 



Pionus menstruus (Linnaeus) 



Psittacus menstruus Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 12, vol. 1 1766, p. 148 (Surinam). 

 1 adult cf , Caicara, October 4, 1949; gonads small; bill black with a small spot 

 of flesh color at base of maxilla; eye ring and feet black; gizzard contained corn. 



The blue-headed parrot was usually seen in the heaviest woods 

 around Caicara, in small flocks of less than 10 birds. Like the blue- 

 and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna), this form appears to be at the extreme 

 edge of its preferred habitat, the heavy lowland forest of Quiriquire 

 and Caripito. However, in spite of being a bird of the heavy woods, 

 it is quite partial to cultivated corn. Although in life the bird was 

 quite similar in general appearance and call notes to Amazona amazon- 

 ica, the red under-tail coverts of the present species were often visible 

 as the bird passed overhead and the wings appeared relatively longer 

 than those of the Amazona. 



Amazona ochrocephala ochrocephala (Gmelin) 



Psittacus ochrocephalus Gmelin, Systema naturae, vol. 1, pt. 1, 1788, p. 339 (South 

 America, restricted to Venezuela by Berlepsch and Hartert, Nov. Zool., 

 vol. 9, 1902, p. 109). 



The collector raised a pair of these parrots from nestlings. Although 

 their primaries were clipped from time to time, the birds were other- 

 wise at liberty in the trees around the house. These notes are offered 

 on the breeding habits of this pair: 



Nestlings received during first half of February 1945. 



First breeding activity noted in late February 1951; believe it quite certain that 

 such activity would not have gone unnoticed during prior years, as birds were 

 under careful observation. Thus this pair was 6 years old when first copulation 

 and egg-laying took place. 



