﻿VENEZUELAN ORNITHOLOGY — FRIEDMANN AND SMITH 481 



dark bars rapidly decreasing in width, becoming narrow bars on the 

 inner webs of the outermost pair and entirely absent on the outer web 

 of the outermost pair (the median rectrices in jpallidicaudus are about 

 like the outer ones in bogotensis) , the facial disk more tinged with 

 ochraceous-buff, the breast less heavily streaked with fuscous, the 

 under wing coverts almost immaculate ochraceous-buff (much streaked 

 with fuscous m bogotensis), and the outermost primaries with fewer 

 dark bands on the underside, imbarred for the basal two-thirds (in 

 bogotensis less than the basal two-fifths). 



This owl w^as recorded on the open savanna in groups of four to six 

 birds during June, July, and September. In June and July they were 

 apparently feeding on frogs, which were abundant on the savanna. 



Family NYTIBIIDAE: Potoos 



NYCTIBIUS GRISEUS GRISEUS (Gmelin) 



Caprimulgus griseus Gmelin, Systema naturae, vol. 1, pt. 2, 1789, p. 1029, No. 5 

 (Cayenne). 



SPECIMENS COLLECTED 



2 9 , Cantaura, May 20, July 15, 1948, gonads enlarged (greatly so in the May 

 specimen); iris bright yellow, feet gray, bill black; gizzards contained beetles, 

 moths, and grasshoppers. 



These two specimens are slightly paler above than another female 

 from northern Brazil (Scrra Imeri, Rio Maturaca), but are very 

 similar to one from Paraguay (Puerto Pinasco). 



The gray potoo was relatively common in the deciduous seasonal 

 woods at both Cantaura and Caicara. It was recorded from May 

 through September, the May example being in breeding condition. 



The call of this species was a series of loud, sustained, notes — 

 wah-wah-wah-wah-wah^wu-^u-wusu, becoming slightly softer at the 

 end. To the collector it appeared to be in a minor key, and each 

 succeeding note was about half a tone lower. Heard at night in these 

 rather desolate woods, the call, something between a laugh and a wail, 

 was not one to be quicldy forgotten. 



At night the eyes of this potoo shine very brightly in the light of a 

 hunting lantern. 



Local name, "perico ligero." Although the translation of this 

 name is "fast parakeet," the collector could find no person who could 

 give him a reasonable explanation of such a name. Nevertheless, it 

 is used throughout the study area to denote this species. 



Family CAPRIMULGIDAE: Goatsuckers 



CHORDEILES PUSILLUS SEPTENTRIONAUS (Hellmayr) 



Nannochordeiles pusillus septentrionalis Hellmayr, Nov. ZooL, vol. 15, 1908, 

 p. 78 (Maipures, Rio Orinoco, Venezuela). 



