﻿412 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. loo 



If we look at the map of ornithological exploratory work done in 

 Venezuela in Phelps's "Resumen de las Colecciones Ornitol6gicas 

 Hechas en Venezuela" (Bol. Soc. Venezolana Cienc. Nat. No. 61, 

 1944, opp. p. 418) we find the area covered by the present collection 

 to be a blank. It is true that Phelps indicates that some birds had 

 been collected at Cantaura, but this localit37- is not mentioned under 

 the geographical summary of any of the 102 Venezuelan collections 

 listed in his paper. It is obvious, then, that the present data do 

 help materially to fill in many little gaps in our knowledge of the dis- 

 tribution of Venezuelan birds, even though, as might be expected, 

 they are not surprising in most instances. In some cases, as is noted 

 under the proper species, discrete increments to previously known 

 ranges have been made, and two new birds have been described from 

 this material. 



Descriptions of the area in general, of the individual collecting 

 stations, and of the various types of habitats they encompassed are 

 here presented by the junior author. 



The area of study was limited roughly to the triangle bounded by 

 Caicara (Monagas) , San Mateo (Anzoategui) , and El Tigre (Anzoate- 

 gui). It lies within 20 miles of the Caribbean Sea at San Mateo, 

 although isolated by the coastal mountain range to the north except 

 at that point. 



The great topographical feature of the area is the eastern Vene- 

 zuelan mesa, a gently rolling, grass-covered plateau ranging in eleva- 

 tion from approximately 750 to 1,500 feet and extending beyond the 

 artificial limits of our area in all directions, except to the northwest. 

 Steep cliffs, up to 100 feet in height, frequently occur along the mesa 

 scarp, as well as along the larger streams wherever erosion has cut 

 through the mesa cap. 



The northwest corner of the study area is comprised of dissected, 

 gently hilly country of approximately 375 to 750 feet elevation, 

 covered with sparse woods, which form a broad band roughly parallel- 

 ing the mesa front and extending some 20 miles west of the western 

 edge of the mesa. The lower land to the north of San Mateo (outside 

 the limits of this report) also supports sparse woods, of a somewhat 

 different composition. 



The permanent rivers crossing the area are the Tigre, Guanipa, 

 Tonoro, Amana, and Guarapiche. All are sizable watercourses, being 

 about 30 feet wide and having holes over 8 feet deep even in the dry 

 season. All flow eastward. The Amana and the Guarapiche head in 

 the mountains to the north; the remainder head m the mesa itself. 

 Drainage in the northwest corner of the area is confined to intermittent 

 streams, dry throughout most of the year, although flow is frequently 

 continuous below the surface in the sand of their beds. There are few 

 permanent bodies of water present, and all are relatively small, shallow 



