﻿516 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.ioo 



form has been recorded, the previous eastern limit being at CumanS, 

 Sucre. 



This shy wren preferred the wet woods wherever heavy underbrush 

 was to be found. It was fairly common around Caicara and was 

 observed occasionally at Cantaura. It was recorded in April, May, 

 November, and December. The call notes were a chunk, somewhat 

 similar to the scolding note of a squirrel, and a pebbly crrrrit crrrit 

 scolding note when the bird was aroused by the collector's "squeaking". 

 The song was a series of hollow notes, generally descending the scale, 

 often followed by a hollow trill. Thi'ough one rarely obtained a glimpse 

 of the bird, these hollow notes were typical sounds of the habitat. 



TROGLODYTES MUSCULUS CLARUS Berlepsch and Hartert 



Troglodytes muscuhis clarus Berlepsch and Hartert, Nov. Zool., vol. 9, 1902, 

 p. 8 (Bartica Grove, British Guiana). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1, unsexed, Cantaura, February 18, 1946; gonads "decomposed"; iris brown; 

 plumage fairly fresh. 



The single example of the pale-bellied house wren collected agrees 

 with others from northern Venezuela. 



The house wren was common at the edges of the wet woods and 

 around the town of Caicara itself, where it was recorded throughout 

 the year. It was not common around Cantaura, being found only 

 near water. The call and song of this wren were quite similar to 

 those of the house wren of the Eastern United States (Troglodytes 

 aedon aedon). This species was observed at Cantaura carrying 

 nesting material during the last week of April and in November. 



Family MIMIDAE: Mockingbirds, Thrashers 



MIMUS GILVUS MELANOPTERUS Lawrence 



Mimus melanopterus Lawrence, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, vol. 5, 1849, 

 p. 35, pi. 2 (Venezuela). 



specimen collected 



1 unsexed juvenal, Cantaura, April 15, 1946; gonads "decomposed"; iris pale 



yellow: 



Our specimen is rather pale, both in the ventral spots and in its 

 dorsal coloration, but this is purely an individual variation, as is 

 demonstrated by other specimens in similar plumage. 



This mockingbird was common on the open savanna wherever a 

 few"chaparro" trees were found together and in the overgrown fields 

 both around Cantaura and Caicara. 



Through this species was often observed capturing insects, small 

 fruits and berries also form an important part of its diet. 



