﻿VENEZUELAN ORNITHOLOGY — FRIEDMANN AND SMITH 449 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 9 , Cantaura, April 22, 1946; gonads slightly enlarged; feet bright orange, iris 

 dull orange, cere black; in molt, especially in the tail. 



This hawk was found exclusively in the deciduous seasonal woods, 

 often in the vicinity of water. It was recorded during the months of 

 January thi'ough April and from July through November. The 

 specimen taken was found in open woods near water. 



A rather active bird, it did not remain perched in one place for long. 

 It had the peculiar habit of hunting tree lizards (which apparently 

 form a large part of its diet) by dropping down the trunk of the same 

 tree in which it was perched. Failing to capture its prey, it would 

 cling to the trunk itself or perch close to the trunk on a nearby branch, 

 awaiting the reappearance of the lizard. Often this happened in 

 rapid succession, giving the hawk the appearance of a large jay 

 hopping up and down through the branches. 



In life this hawk gave the collector the impression of being much 

 heavier than it actually was. In the hand it appeared small and 

 fragile, mostly feathers, and this appearance was heightened by the 

 long legs and thin tarsi. 



The specimen prepared had a large green hzard about 12 inches 

 long in its gizzard. Another example, taken in November (not 

 saved), contained insects. 



The call note was a soft, clearly whistled "ueeoo-ueeoo." In the 

 second week of February, at Cantaura, two birds were seen chasing 

 each other through the woods, calling as they flew. 



Family FALCONIDAE: Falcons 



HERPETOTHERES CACfflNNANS CACHINNANS (Linnaeus) 



Falco cachinnans Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 90 (South 

 America, ex Rolander; type locality restricted to Surinam by Berlepsch, 

 Nov. Zool., vol. 15, 1908, p. 290). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 (^, Cantaura, July 29, 1947; gonads very small; iris dark brown, base of bill 

 dull yellow, rest of bill black, feel dull yellow; gizzard contained remains of a 

 large snake; active molt in tail and wings. 



Within the study area this hawk was found to be rather strictly 

 limited to the deciduous seasonal forest. It was commoner at 

 Caicara than at Cantaura, although it could be found almost at will 

 at either of the two stations. A sluggish bird, it was seen customarily 

 quietly perched. Often a pair were seen together. This species was 

 recorded during January through April, July, August, September, 

 November, and December. 



Besides a very human laughing caU, the bird uttered a loud, clear, 

 rhythmic bar-co-va, accented on the first and last syllables and repeated 

 over and over again. Often two birds would call at the same time 



