512 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM 



1954, at Naricual, Anzodtegui, about 15 kilometers from where the 

 specimen was taken, a flock of over 500 of these swallows roosted 

 on the telephone lines crossing the Neveri River; June 15 was the last 

 day they were seen. Some of the birds were approaching breeding 

 plumage. The flock did not remain in the area and was apparently 

 a nomadic, if not migrant, flock similar to that from which our speci- 

 men was collected. 



Family Troglodytidae: Wrens 



Thryothorus rutilus rutilus Vieillot 



Thryothoriis rutilus Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat., nouv. ed., vol. 34, 1819, 

 p. 55 ("I'Am^rique septentrionale," error, = Trinidad). 

 1 cf , Caicara, June 6, 1950, gonads greatly enlarged; broad patch evident; iris 

 chestnut; bill and feet blue-gray; gizzard contained insects. 



This striking wren was present in favored, overgrown spots on the 

 Guarapiche River at Caicara, especially where tiny feeder streams or 

 springs gave rise to a growth of ferns or Heliconia. The song is very 

 different from that of Thryothorus rufalbus. Rather than a series of 

 hollow, placeless notes, this form had a gay, loud whistle, oooeeeeherrr- 

 tiddlier, commencing low and slurring rapidly upwards, and down 

 again, followed by a trill. 



Family Mimidae: Mockingbirds, Thrashers 



Mimiis gilvus melanopterus Lawrence 



Mimus melanopterus Lawrence, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, vol. 5, 1849, 

 p. 35, pi. 2 (Venezuela). 



We add to the detailed observations recorded in our 1950 paper 

 the following data: An example was captm-ed alive and marked with 

 India ink. Judged by its actions later, it was a male. Its territory 

 was fomid to be a square, approximately 200 by 200 feet, which it 

 was never seen to leave. Its favorite song perches were all in the 

 central part of this square. At times it defended the territory against 

 almost all other mockingbirds, while at other times it allov/ed tres- 

 passing. During the first week of March it was observed nest- 

 building, gathering the material (often at the very base of the bush) 

 and constructing the nest. While the female (?) accompanied the 

 male at the feeding station, she was not observed buUding the nest. 

 This is at variance with our previous report on the nest-building habits 

 of this form, where both male and female took part in the work. The 

 nest was destroyed before the eggs were laid, so further observations 

 were not possible. 



