﻿466 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. loo 



The May bird is slightly more deeplj'^ and brightly colored than 

 the February example (the August bird, being young, is much less 

 brightly colored). 



In the use of the specific name cayennensis instead of rufina we are 

 following Hellmayr and Conover (Catalogue of the birds of the 

 Americas, pt. 1, No. 1, 1942, p. 453). 



Although the present bird was much commoner in that it was more 

 evenly distributed throughout the study area, the remarks on seasonal 

 fluctuation of Columba corensis hold true for it also. 



This pigeon was typically a bird of the deciduous seasonal woods, 

 although it was also found breeding in stands of "moriche" palm on 

 the savanna. It was a permanent resident, recorded throughout the 

 year both at Cantaura and Caicara, but it was commoner at the 

 latter station, at least during the dry season. 



This pigeon was found nesting in the latter half of AprU, as well 

 as in July and August. The nests, very flimsy affairs of twigs, were 

 placed in trees 10 to 20 feet above ground. The collector was never 

 able to climb up to examine one, but in one instance it was possible 

 to look up through the bottom of the nest and see a single egg within. 

 The bird was apparently brooding when flushed off the nest, perhaps 

 lending some support to the local belief that this species lays but 

 one egg. 



One of the favorite foods of this species was the fruit of the " chaparro 

 manteca." The bird was quite arboreal, rarely feeding on the ground. 



The call note was loud and pigeonlike. Locally, the bird was said 

 to say "santa cruz"; the first two notes (santa) are short and un- 

 musical, while the last is a long melodious coooouu (cruz). 



Local name, "paloma turca." 



ZENAIDURA AURICULATA STENURA (Bonaparte) 



Zenaida stenura Bonaparte, Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris, vol. 40, No. 3, 

 January 15, 1855, p. 98 ("Columbia" = Colombia). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 ?, Cantaura, Anzodtegui, May 10, 1945; gonads enlarged (small yolks); iris 

 brown, eye ring light blue, feet red; plumage very worn. 



Hellmayr and Conover (Catalogue of the birds of the Americas, 

 pt. 1, No. 1, 1942, p. 490) have shown that stenura Bonaparte is the 

 correct name for this form, previously referred to by authors under 

 Ridgway's name vinaceo-riifa. They also indicate that rubripes 

 Lawrence is not separable. 



This was the common dove of the savanna and, at times, of the 

 deciduous seasonal woods edge. It was recorded throughout the 

 year but with very marked fluctuation in numbers. During January 

 and February the bird was rare and was then generally recorded only 

 as occasional singles. However, at times even during these months 

 flocks of up to 50 individuals were recorded, apparently immature 



