﻿VENEZUELAN ORNITHOLOGY — FRIEDMANN AND SMITH 517 



These birds were nesting at least from the end of January to May, 

 July, and September. 



The collector was able to observe a pair of these mockers throughout 

 their nesting. The nest was placed about 5 feet above ground in a 

 bush just outside the office in which he worked. 



A series of observations was made on these birds. The resume is as 

 follows : 



July 8-9. Pair come to bush repeatedly, apparently inspecting site. 



July 10. Skeleton base of nest of perhaps 20 small twigs at 8 a. m. Both birds 

 come to nest with twigs, generally at about 5-minute intervals. At times, both 

 come together. Both sit in nest to form it. At times birds come to nest without 

 twig. Male often sings away from nest. Birds cease coming at 3 p. m. 



July 11. At 7 a. m. nest is already well built, with a good layer of fairly fine 

 grasses in place. Work must have been done between 4 p. m. and 7 a. m. In the 

 morning the birds come several times with grass and then remain away for rest 

 of day. The nest is now completed. 



July 12. A bird comes to nest four times in the morning, apparently for inspec- 

 tion only. 



July 13. No observation. 



July 14. Two eggs in nest at 7 a. m. Bird comes several times and settles over 

 eggs. 



July 15. Both birds come in and settle over eggs, at least one coming and 

 leaving about every 10 minutes. At 1 p. m. nest contains three eggs, the third 

 having been laid sometime after 7 a. m. Bird brooding for short periods, leaving 

 nest for approximately half-hour periods. 



July 16-26. Brooding. Never could be certain that both birds brooded but 

 presume so as on July 15 both were definitely seen to settle over eggs. The birds 

 (or bird) invariably followed same route through bush to nest, and almost always 

 sat facing the same direction, possibly an indication that only one bird brooded. 

 One was seen chasing a tanager, Thraupis sayaca glaucocolpa that approached 

 nest site. (This tanager was apparently quite given to destroying other birds' 

 nests; see remarks under Coereba flaveola luteola, p. 522.) On July 22 the bird 

 developed a curious display which it repeated three or four times before entering 

 nest. With body held stiff, it bowed, head down, tail up, wings partially open, 

 usually raised. 



July 27. No observation. 



July 28. Three young hatched. All appear dry and "cold", don't appear to 

 have hatched before 7 this morning but must have hatched in afternoon of 26th 

 or on 27th, probably both. Bird brooding young at frequent intervals throughout 

 day. Young covered with sparse black down. 



July 29. "Peeping" of young audible at 10 feet. Parent observed coming in 

 v/ith food for first time at 2 p. m. Birds generally display (July 22) when 

 entering nest. 



July 30. Both parents feeding young. One still broods for short periods and 

 when raining. 



August 1. Primaries beginning to appear as pinfeathers on young. 



August 2. Pinfeathers beginnning to show on wings and back of young. 



August 5. Pinfeathers on wings and back about % of an inch long, broken 

 through sheath at tips. 



August 8. Young with wings fairly well developed, tail about 1 inch long. 

 Giving chipping note. One can stand on edge of nest. By afternoon all are very 



