﻿VENEZUELAN ORNITHOLOGY — FRIEDMANN AND SMITH 537 



molting the remiges and has fresh, new inner secondaries with large 

 white markings. 



This goldfinch was recorded in the deciduous seasonal woods-edge 

 habitat both at Cantaura and Caicara during the months of November 

 through March, generally in flocks of about 10 birds. It was never 

 common. 



SICAUS LUTEOLA LUTEOLA (Sparrman) 



Emheriza lulcola Sparrman, Museum Carsonianum, fasc. 4, 1789, pi. 93 (habitat 

 not stated; probably Surinam). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 c?", San Ram6n, July 24, 1944; gonads very much enlarged; iris brown; 

 plumage somewhat abraded. 



This specimen is small, having a wing length of only 62 mm., and 

 this is just under the minimum (63 mm.) given by Hellmayr (Catalogue 

 of the birds of the Americas, pt. 11, 1938, p. 328, footnote). 



This little finch was abundant locally on the open savanna in the 

 vicinity of San Ramdn and Caicara. It was unaccountably rare on 

 similar savannas at Cantaura and El Tigre. It was seen in flocks 

 of 5 to 10 birds in June; by the end of August flocks of more than 

 100 individuals were seen around the savanna lagoons. The example 

 collected was in full song when obtained. 



SICALIS FLAVEOLA FLAVEOLA (Linnaeus) 



Fringilla flaveola Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 321 

 (Surinam). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 cf (?), Cantaura, February 20, 1945; gonads decomposed; iris black or very 

 dark brown, feet dull brown; gizzard contained small seeds; plumage fresh. 



The bird is in fine, very bright color, and is therefore probably 

 correctly sexed in spite of the lack of autopsic evidence. 



This beautiful yeUow finch was abundant in bushy fields and at 

 the woods edge both around Cantaura and Caicara. It was usually 

 found in flocks of 10 to 30 individuals. The example collected was 

 taken from a flock of about 40 individuals seen in an open bushy field. 

 It was recorded dm-ing every month of the year, generally in flocks 

 of over 10 individuals. From February through April the flocks 

 increased in size. Often 50 to 100 birds would come in at evening 

 to roost in favorite trees. 



The collector was informed locally that this bird nested in holes 

 in trees. Though he never found a nest, in October he saw a pan- 

 placing twigs and grass inside a pipe that served as a crossarm on a 

 telephone pole. This crossarm was over 20 feet above the ground. 

 Again, in April, he observed a pair repeatedly inspecting a hoUow 

 branch. 



