﻿420 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. loo 



approximately 10 miles toward the north and for a somewhat greater 

 distance to the east. Although some deciduous seasonal forest is 

 present at this station, the outstanding feature is the intrusion of low- 

 land seasonal forest along the Guarapiche River flood plain. It is 

 also probable that the avifauna at this station is affected by the prox- 

 imity of the mountain range to the north, although no specific instance 

 can be given. The elevation of this station is approximately 590 feet 

 above sea level. 



The other collecting stations are: 



Kilometer 52: A small semipermanent pond in deciduous seasonal woods, 

 approximately 10 miles north of San Mateo, Anzodtegui (1 specimen). 



Barcelona, Anzoategui: Sea coast, within 100 yards of the shore (6 specimens) . 



Boca de Tigre, AnzoXtegui: Wooded swamp, approximately 18 miles north of 

 San Mateo, Anzod,tegui ( 1 specimen). 



MuNDO Nuevo, Monagas: On the Amana River, in the mountains to the north 

 of Caicara, Monagas; not visited by the junior author, the skins being prepared by 

 Pedro Montes (3 specimens). 



About 10 km. south of Urica, Anzoategui; also San Ram6n, Monagas: 

 Open savanna with semipermanent ponds. Within the study area, approximately 

 midway between Cantaura, Anzodtegui, and Caicara, Monagas (7 specimens). 



El Toco, Anzoategui: Deciduous seasonal woods, approximately 25 miles west 

 of Cantaura, Anzoategui (1 specimen). 



Forming a rough right triangle with two sides some 60 miles long, 

 the study area covers approximately 1,800 square miles. Its relatively 

 low population is confined almost entirely to the oil centers, all of 

 which are located at the borders of the area. 



An idea of the distribution of this population may be formed from 

 the results of the registration for the presidential elections of 1947. 

 Approximately 24,000 adults (18 years of age or over) were registered 

 within the area, divided roughly as follows: 



700 San Mateo 



4,000 Cantaura and vicinity 



8,600 El Tigre and vicinity 



8,900 Jusepfn/Punta de Mata and vicinity (includes Caicara) 



1,800 Other 



The registrations for Cantaura and Caicara were roughly 1,660 

 each. Away from the two principal surfaced roads (fig. 46), both 

 inside and outside the artificial limits of the study area, the population 

 density is light, probably less than five individuals per square mile. 

 On the savanna between Cantaura and El Tigre are stiU to be found 

 pure Amerinds, relatively uninfiuenced by the surrounding population. 



In general the effect of man on the wildlife of the region is slight. 

 The sparse population and lack of agriculture have left the original 

 vegetation almost untouched. Cattle are not raised in numbers 

 sufficient to overgraze the land. The operations of the only major 

 industry, petroleum production, while of paramount economic im- 

 portance, have had markedly little effect on the fauna. The roads, 



