BIRDS OF NORTHERN VENEZUELA — WETMORE 195 



being a blend of these two). The combinations of these colors in 

 pattern arrangement are therefore limited and are paralleled in dif- 

 ferent parts of the world where there is no probability of close rela- 

 tionship. 



Family LARIDAE 



LARUS ATRICILLA Linnaeus: Laughing Gall 



Larus Atricilla Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 136 (Bahamas). 



Several in winter dress were observed in the harbor at La Guaira 

 on October 16. 



THALASSEUS MAXIMUS MAXIMUS (Boddaert): Royal Tern 



Sterna maxima Boddaert, Table des planches enlumin^ez, 1783, p. 68 (Cayenne). 



From October 22 to 31 I found this tern common along the beach 

 at Independencia below Ocumare de la Costa. One evening at sun- 

 set one was diving rapidly in the surf, when its activity was noted by 

 keen-eyed fishermen who came running up to cast their nets to secure 

 the sardines that were present in schools. The tern, their guide, was 

 driven away by this human invasion. On November 25 a flock of 

 25 royal terns circled about the harbor at La Guaira and then alighted 

 on a large buoy. 



Family COLUMBIDAE 



COLUMBA GYMNOPHTALMOS Tenuninck 



Columba Gymnophtabnos Temminck, in Knip, Les pigeons, 1809, p. 48, pi. 18 

 (no type locality) . 



In view of current statements in Uterature that in Venezuela this 

 is a species of the arid coastal region, it was a surprise to me to find it 

 common near El Sombrero in the northern llanos. A male collected 

 on November 19 had the iris light orange, the bare eyelids neutral 

 gray, the bill light brownish white, with the cere slightly darker, and 

 the tarsus and toes rose-red. The papillae forming the prominent 

 circle about the eye were blackish distally, and brownish at the 

 concealed bases. The birds were most common near the Rfo Guarico 

 but were found also inland. They had the habits usual to this group 

 of birds of resting in the tops of trees concealed among the leaves, or 

 in early morning on open branches in the sun. When alarmed they 

 flew out with a clapping of wings. 



ZENAIDURA AURICULATA VINACEO-RUFA (Ridgway) 



Zenaida tnnaceo-rufa Ridgway, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 7, 1884, p. 176 (Curagao, 

 Dutch West Indies). 



In the llanos about El Sombrero these doves were common, par- 

 ticularly at the borders of savannas, where they were usually seen in 



