514 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL AIUSEUM vol. i 



Family Icteridae: Troupials 



Psomocolax oryzivorus oryzivorus (Gmelin) 



Oriolus oryzivorus Gmelin, Systema naturae, vol. 1, pt. 1, 1788, p. 366 (based on 

 the rice oriole, Latham, General synopsis of birds, vol. 1, pt. 2, p. 423 

 (Cayenne) .) 

 IcT, Caicara, May 1, 1950; gonads greatly enlarged; iris orange; feet and bill 

 black; gizzard contained corn. 



A pair was seen at the edge of a cornfield, and one of them, the 

 present specunen, was taken. The species was not otherwise observed, 

 although the local farmers appeared to know the bird. 



Molothrus bonariensis venezuelensis Stone 



Molothrus venezuelensis Stone, Auk, vol. 8, 1891, p. 347 (Venezuela; type from 

 Lago de Valencia). 



Since our 1950 report was written, more has been learned of the 

 habits of this cowbird. It is another form which has become much 

 commoner during the last few years, apparently due to the abundance 

 of water at the oil company camps. Flocks of more than 10 birds 

 were not reported up to 1950, whereas in the succeeding years flocks 

 of over 100 individuals were not rare. 



The male often displays by flymg in tight circles (about 15 feet in 

 diameter) around the female (in one case, around a dead Sicalis 

 jlaveola). Usually, the female is on the ground, and the male's 

 circle is described about 2 or 3 feet above the ground. The female 

 inclines slightly, raising the tail and at times walking toward the 

 male. At times the male sings while displaying, and often sings 

 while in flight. The song is quite pleasing, weak but musical. 



The collector reports that this cowbird parasitizes the grackle 

 Quiscalus lugubris. This is interesting because the parasitism reported 

 is on a large scale, and apparently, at least locally, the Quiscalus 

 seems to be the exclusive host. In this case the host is the slightly 

 larger bird and belongs to the same family as the parasite. The 

 Quiscalus come to the feeding station with their young, about 25 

 percent of which are Molothrus; these flock with their foster parents 

 for a time and then, still in the same dress, slowly leave to join the 

 flocks of Molothrus. Unfortunately, no specimens were taken. 



Agelaius icterocephalus icterocephaliis (Linnaeus) 



Oriolus icterocephalus Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 163 

 (based on "Le Carouge a teste jaune de Cayenne" Brisson, Ornithologia, 

 vol. 2, 1760, p. 124, pi. 12, fig. 4 (Cayenne).) 

 Id', Quiriquire, October 1, 1949; gonads small; iris dark; bill and feet black; 

 plumage abraded. 



