VENEZUELAN ORNITHOLOGY — FRIEDMANN AND SMITH 499 



(Mimus gilvus) or the Swainson's graclde {Quiscalus luguhris) which 

 frequented the tree. Several eggs were found on the ground under 

 the nest site, apparently laid there, as they would have broken in a 

 faU from the nest. 



A fledgling was found on September 16; it could barely fly, but 

 could run very well. It uttered a check-check note and the kt-cheeeu 

 typical of the adults. When a band of adults passed nearby it called 

 frantically and, when released, rejoined the flock without difficulty. 



These anis are very active ground feeders. They walk and run 

 rapidly, occasionally giving two or three big hops and run, twisting 

 and turning with the aid of their long tail. At times they fly up to 

 catch an insect a yard above the ground. The flock is generally silent 

 while on the ground, except for strays that have to fly to rejoin the 

 flock. However, when the band takes to flight, the members call 

 repeatedly. 



Family Strigidae: Owls 



Otus choliba subspecies 



1 juv. cT, Caicara, May 1, 1953; gonads small; bill and feet blue-gray; iris 

 bright yellow. 



This specimen is unidentifiable to subspecies. Two possibilities 

 have to be taken into consideration 0. c. crucigeriis (Spix) and 0. c. 

 margaritae Cory, but an adult bird in good plumage is needed to 

 determine which form occurs at Caicara. 



A pair of these owls were found nesting at Caicara, about 15 feet up 

 in a hollow tree at the road edge in deciduous woods. On March 25 

 the nest contained three half-grown young. This is the only time 

 this little owl was recorded by the collector. Apparently, the call 

 note is not similar to that of the North American screech owl (Otus 

 asio ndevius) or he would scarcely have overlooked the bird during 

 the past years. At the nest, the parent bird uttered a soft hoot, 

 repeated at rare intervals. Since this owl's eyes do not shine at night 

 in the fight of a hunting lantern, the bird was very difficult to locate. 

 The young bird, taken from the nest, gave an aspirate call very 

 similar to that of the barn owl {Tyto alba). If the adults give this 

 call, it may be that the collector has, at times, misidentified its author, 

 and that some of his Tyto records actually belong to the present form. 



Bubo virginianus scotinus Oberholser 



Bubo virginianus scotinus Oberholser, Mus. Brooklyn Inst. Arts Sci., Sci. Bull., 

 vol 1, 1908, p. 371 (Caicara, Rfo Orinoco, Venezuela). 



1 cT, Cantaura, September 20, 1949; skull well ossified; gonads small; iris 

 yellow; bill black; feet pale blue-gray; gizzard contained a lizard about 12 inches 

 long, and grasshoppers. 



1 ? , Cantaura, July 5, 1950; skull well ossified; gonads somewhat enlarged; 

 iris dull yellow; bill black; gizzard contained a small snake. 



