510 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. i04 



Members of this genus are noted for their habit of chasing hawks, 

 and on one occasion the collector observed a pair attacking an aplo- 

 mado falcon which had just attacked and badly wounded a ground 

 dove (Columbigallina passerina). The dove had somehow escaped 

 and had hidden under several weeds, leaving a trail of feathers behind. 

 The falcon was waiting in a nearby tree when the kingbirds attacked 

 it and finally forced it to leave the area. This falcon, which is 

 capable of capturing pigeons in flight, attempted to fight off the Idng- 

 bu-ds, but was apparently unsuccessful because it divided its efforts 

 between the two birds. There appears to be no other reason why 

 it could not have killed them. 



On another occasion one was observed attacking a flock of swallow- 

 tailed kites (Elanoides forficatus) soaring high above. 



Megarhynchus pitangua pitangiia (Linnaeus) 



Lanius pitangua Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 136 (based on 

 Brisson (ex Marcgrave), eastern Brazil). 



Further observation causes us to revise our previous estimate of 

 this bird from "probably not uncommon" to common, in the decidu- 

 ous woods-edge environment. It is not as strictly limited by the 

 presence of sm'face water as is the "cristofue" {Pitangus sulphuratus 

 rufipennis) . Its call is a harsh, insectlike chreereererr . 



Pitangus sulphuratus rufipennis (Lafresnaye) 



Saurophagus rufipennis Lafresnaye, Rev. Mag. Zool., ser. 2, vol. 3, 1851, p. 471 

 (Caracas). 



As we mentioned in our earlier report the birds of the study area 

 are rufipennis and are not intermediate between this race and trini- 

 tatis. 



These large flycatchers were not averse to coming to the collector's 

 feeding station and eating cooked rice, bread and milk, bananas, and 

 papaya. Their large, globular nests of grass are often seen in the 

 telephone poles between Puerto La Cruz and San Tome. 



Platyrinchus mystaceus insularis Allen 



Platyrhynchus insularis Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. 2, 1889, p. 143 

 (Tobago). 

 Icf , immature, Caicara, October 12, 1949; gonads small; skull not well ossified; 

 iris brown; bill dark brown with the base of the mandible dull yellow; feet pale 

 tan. 



This little flycatcher was not common in the deciduous seasonal 

 woods at Caicara, it was not found around Cantaura. The call was a 

 harsh, rather loud, but not at all flycatcher-like squeeeek. 



