﻿VENEZUELAN ORNITHOLOGY — FRIEDMANN AND SMITH 525 



This bird was recorded in the deciduous seasonal woods at Cantaura 

 during March, April, and May, generally seen in small flocks. The 

 collector did not observe it at Caicara. 



Family ICTERIDAE: Troupials 



XANTHORNUS DECUMANUS DECUMANUS Pallas 



Xanthornus decumanus Pallas, Spicilegia zoologica, fasc. 6, 1769, p. 1, pi. 1 

 (Surinam). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 unsexed (apparently cf), Caicara, December 21, 1945; iris blue. 



The feathers of the back and lower back in this specimen are faintly 

 edged with deep bay, agreeing in this respect with examples from 

 Ocumare de la Costa and El Sombrero. Our bird is definitely not 

 insularis (Dalmas), which must have a very restricted range on the 

 mainland of northeastern Venezuela. 



This bird was fairly common in the wet woods around Caicara, 

 generally encountered in flocks of 10 to 20 individuals, March to 

 December. It was not present around Cantaura. 



The call was a rattle (vocal?), followed by a hoUow chu ki chu ki 

 do coooo. 



Local name, "conoto." 



XANTHORNUS VIRIDIS (P. L. S. MUIler) 



Oriolus viridis P. L. S. Muller, Natursystera, Suppl., 1776, p. 87 (based on 

 "Cassique vert de Cayenne" Daubenton, Planches enlum., pi. 328; Cayenne). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 cf, Caicara, July 5, 1947; gonads enlarged; iris blue, bill yellow with orange 

 tip; gizzard contained large insects; an adult bird in worn plumage. 



This bird was found only in the lowland seasonal forest at Caicara, 

 where it was somewhat less common than Xanthornus decumanus 

 decumanus. It was recorded in March and July. 



Local name, "conoto real." 



CACICUS CELA CELA (Linnaeus) 



Parus Cela Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 191 ("in India"; 

 error = Surinam). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 cf", Caicara, December 20, 1945; gonads not enlarged; iris milk white; speci- 

 men in fine fresh plumage. 



This specimen was compared with a good series from various parts 

 of the range of this widely distributed form and found to be in close 

 agreement in every way. 



This caique was rather common in the lowland seasonal forest at 

 Caicara, being recorded in March, April, July, August, and December. 



