﻿532 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM 



RAMPHOCELUS CARBO CAPITALIS Allen 



Ramphocoelus astrosericeus capitalis Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. 4, 

 1892, p. 51 (El Pilar, near Carupano, Sucre, Venezuela). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 9, Caicara, July 5, 1947; gonads greatly enlarged (small yolks); iris red- 

 brown; gizzard contained a large caterpillar; in adult breeding condition; plumage 

 fairly fresh. 



This specimen is identified to the present subspecies largely on geo- 

 graphic grounds, as the race capitalis is one of those forms in which 

 the distinguishing characters are to he seen only in the males. Hell- 

 mayr (Catalogue of the birds of the Americas, pt. 9, 1936, p. 255, 

 footnote) gives no diagnostic characters for the females, and it is not 

 surprising, therefore, to find that the present example does not differ 

 appreciably from the female of the race venezuelensis. 



This tanager was encountered only in the lowland seasonal forest 

 at Caicara, where it was rather common. It was recorded in March, 

 April, July, September, and November. Although the collector 

 searched for the bird in December, he was unable to record it in that 

 month. 



TACHYPHONUS RUFUS (Boddaert) 



Tangara rufa Boddaebt, Table des planches enlumin^ez, 17S3, p. 44 (based on "Le 

 Tangaroux de Cayenne" Daubenton: Cayenne). 



SPECIMEN EXAMINED 



1 cf , Caicara, December 23, 1945; gonads not enlarged; iris brown; fairly fresh 

 plumage. 



The bird collected was found in moist woodlands. This species 

 was common at clearings in or near the lowland seasonal forest at 

 Caicara, where it was recorded throughout the year. It was not ob- 

 served at Cantaura. It was very fond of the over-ripe fruit of the pa- 

 paya (Carica papaya). Flocks of more than 10 individuals often were 

 seen feeding. 



NEMOSIA PILEATA PILEATA (Boddaert) 



Tanagra pileata Boddaert, Table des planches enlumin^ez, 1783, p. 45 (based on 

 "Tangara k coefTe noire, de Cayenne" Daubenton: Cayenne). 



specimens collected 



2 cf , Cantaura, February 2, 1945 and April 13, 1946; gonads not enlarged in 

 the February bird, greatly so in the April one; iris bright yellow, tarsi and toes 

 dull yellow, bill black. 



These two specimens agree wdth a fair series from various parts of the 

 range of this tanager. The April bird is slightly darker above than the 

 February one. 



This bird was seen around Cantaura at the edge of the dry woods 

 from December until May. It was encountered singly at rare intervals 



