﻿VENEZUELAN ORNITHOLOGY — FRIEDMANN AND SMITH 515 



lish itself in the deciduous seasonal woods-edge habitat at Cantaura, 

 after a camp was established there. This was apparently due to the 

 increase of available water used for watering lawns and gardens, as 

 the birds were not present previous to that time. 



A decided increase in the numbers of these wrens around Cantaura 

 was noted during the first week of February. A fledgling, just out of 

 the nest, was found during the first week of February. The marked 

 increase in numbers during early February was perhaps due to the 

 young birds making their appearance, rather than to local movement. 



It is most difficult to describe their unbirdlike notes; they might 

 be written as a harsh glawp glawp boo-chuk boo-chuk. 



At times this bird is called locally "pavita," apparently being 

 confused with the local Formicariidae. 



HELEODYTES NUCHALIS BREVIPENNIS (Lawrence) 



Campylorhynchus brevipennis Lawrence, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, vol. 8j 

 1867, p. 344 (Venezuela). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 cf, Cantaura, April 17, 1945; gonads not enlarged; iris pale yellow; feathering 

 rather abraded. 



The specimen collected was one of two bu-ds (a pair?) seen together. 



Wetmore (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 87, 1939, pp. 237-238) has 

 indicated that brevipennis is distinct from pardus. Study of the 

 same material convinces us of the correctness of his conclusions. 

 The present example fits in clearly with brevipennis and not with 

 pardus. 



This wren was common in the lowland seasonal forest at Caicara; 

 it was uncommon in the deciduous seasonal woods throughout the 

 area, especially in locahties near water. It was recorded in March, 

 April, May, July, November, and December. 



In July the birds were seen entering their large nest of twigs, 

 fashioned at the end of a hanging branch about 10 feet above ground. 



Many of the calls of this species resembled those of Heleodytes 

 minor minor, although not so harsh and somewhat more wrenlike 

 in tone. The bird also gave a low, wrenlike chrrr. 



THRYOTHOEUS RUFALBUS CUMANENSIS (Cabanis) 



Troglodytes cumanensis {ex Lichtenstein MS.) Cabanis, Journ. fiir Orn., vol. 8, 

 1860, p. 408, in text (Cartagena, Colombia). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



Ic?*, Caicara, December 17, 1945; gonads enlarged; iris brown; fairly fresh 

 plumage. 



Caicara appears to be the easternmost locaHty from which this 



