﻿VENEZUELAN ORNITHOLOGY — FRIEDMANN AND SMITH 489 



Family TROGONIDAE: Trogons 



TROGON STRIGILATUS STRIGILATUS Linnaeus 



Trogon strigilatus Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 167 

 (Cayenne) . 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 (f, Caicara, March 24, 1948; gonads small; iris brown, eye ring blue-white, 

 bill blue-gray, feet black; gizzard contained fruit. 



Apparently all the individuals of this trogon do not breed at one 

 time of the year. This example was not in breeding condition in 

 March, while others from southern Venezuela (Friedmann, Proc. U. S. 

 Nat. Mus., vol. 97, 1948, p. 426), taken in Februaiy, March, and 

 April, were found to have enlarged gonads. The present specimen is 

 in good fresh plumage. 



This beautiful trogon was recorded in the deciduous seasonal woods 

 at Caicara during March and July. The collector was informed 

 locally that it was a rather common bird and that it could often be 

 heard calling at night. Quite possibly that is true, for the bird was 

 heard uttering the loud rather distmctive caU cow-cow-cow after dark 

 as well as during the day. It was a quiet bird, often sitting motionless 

 for long periods, inconspicuous in spite of its size and coloring. 



Notmthstanding its local name, "gusanero" (worm-eater), fruit and 

 seeds were found in the gizzard of the specimen collected. 



Family ALCEDINIDAE: Kingfishers 



CERYLE TORQUATA TORQUATA (Linnaeus) 



Alcedo torquata Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 180 (Mar- 

 tinique and Mexico). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 cf, Cantaura, May 2, 1948; one testis (right) small, the other very small and 

 irregular in shape; iris dark brown, bill dull gray, green at base; an adult in fairly 

 fresh plumage. 



The great-ringed kingfisher was encountered uncommonly on the 

 Guarapiche River, where it flowed through the lowland seasonal 

 forest at Caicara, and on the Guanipa River on the open savanna. 

 It was recorded in April, May, August, September, and November. 



This species was heard to utter a low chuck. 



CHLOROCERYLE AMAZONA AMAZONA (Latham) 



Alcedo amazona Latham, Index ornithologicus, vol. 1, 1790, p. 257 (Cayenne). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 9 , Cantaura, October 12, 1947; gonads enlarged; iris brown; plumage fresh. 



This kingfisher was common on the Guarapiche River at Caicara; 

 it was also encountered occasionally at the savanna ponds. It was 

 recorded during April, May, September, and November, apparently 

 breeding in September. 



