﻿VENEZUELAN ORNITHOLOGY — FRIEDMANN AND SMITH 479 



In the wild the species called most frequently for about two hours 

 after sunset and again from about an hour before daybreak to two 

 hours afterward. It was also heard to call throughout the day, 

 even in midday in the bright sunlight, and during the night. The 

 collector noted that passerine birds rarely assembled to scold these 

 little owls during the day, even when the birds were calling. 



Local name, "pavita." 



PULSATBIX PEBSPICILLATA PERSPICILLATA (Latham) 



Sirix perspicillata Latham, Index ornithologicus, vol. 1, 1790, p. 58 (Cayenne). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 9 , Cantaura, February 21, 1946; gonads greatly enlarged; iris yellow, bill 

 yellow-green; gizzard contained large insects. 



This is the palest example of its kind that we have seen. It has 

 far more white (bars) on the greater upper wing coverts and paler 

 bars on the outer webs of the remiges and both webs of the rectrices 

 than in other specimens seen. This may be a matter of age, the 

 present example possibly being subadult. It may also be a matter 

 of sex, but this cannot be determined definitely as the comparative 

 material consists mostly of male birds. 



The spectacled owl was noted in February, July, and September. 

 A pair was encountered in the dry open woods, and one was collected. 

 It was a surprise to the collector to find only insects in the gizzard 

 of such a large powerful bird. 



The local name is "tituiji," supposedly in imitation of its call. 



SPEOTYTO CUNICULARIA BBACHYPTERA Bkhmond 



Speotyto hrachyptera Richmond, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 18, 1896, p. 663 

 (east of Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 cT, Caicara, December 18, 1945; gonads slightly enlarged; iris rich yellow. 



This specimen is slightly darker and larger than three topotypes 

 and the type of hrachyptera but it seems referable to that form. It 

 is too large (wing 155 mm.) for minor and is not so brightly colored 

 as apurensis. It would appear to be an intermediate between hrachyp- 

 tera and apurensis but nearer to the former, with which it is here 

 placed. It is in fairly fresh plumage. 



This is a bird of the open mesa, where it was locally common and 

 was often flushed when the collector walked across the savannas 

 frequented by it. It was recorded in June, July, September, October, 

 and November, generally in colonies of 10 to 20 pairs. 



