214 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM Vol.87 



taken November 14 measures as follows: Wing 103, tail 63.4, culmen 

 from base 25.7, tarsus 21.6 mm. 



PICUMNUS SQUAMULATUS OBSOLETUS Allen 



Picumnus obsoletus Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat, Hist., vol. 4, Apr. 6, 1892, p. 56 

 (El Pilar, near Cardpano, Venezuela). 



On October 28 I found one of these tiny birds in dense scrub near 

 Ocumare de la Costa, resting across a branch, yawning prodigiously 

 and stretching its neck, apparently to aid in ejecting a pellet of hard, 

 indigestible insect remains. Near El Sombrero on November 16 

 I collected another as it rested on a vertical branch, which it ham- 

 mered vigorously, clinging with its relatively huge feet while the tail 

 swung clear. On November 20 one worked actively through small 

 branches, 20 feet from the ground in wet woodland near the Rfo 

 Guarico. 



All three specimens are males. The one from Ocumare, in fresh 

 plumage, is lighter colored above than the two from El Sombrero, 

 which are somewhat worn. Measurements are as follows: Wing 

 51.5, 50.8, 50.8, tail 27.2, 24.5, 27.4, culmen from base 11.8, 12.4, 11.8, 

 tarsus 11.8, 12.8, 11.8 mm. 



Family DENDROCOLAPTIDAE 



DENDROPLEX PICIROSTRIS PHALARA Wetmore 



Dendroplex picirostris phalara Wetmore, Smithsonian Misc. Coll., vol. 98, No. 4, 

 Mar. 10, 1939, p. 4 (El Sombrero, Estado Guarico, Venezuela). 



The first of these birds was seen on November 12 near Parapara, 

 where one was collected as it worked among the larger branches of a 

 thorny tree. Near El Sombrero they were fahly common, so that 

 three were obtained on November 14, 18, and 19. They were found 

 in the more open scrub and also in low, wet woods. They climbed 

 like Lepidocolaptes. On November 20 I found two chattering and 

 calling about holes in trees in heavy forest near the Rio Guarico. 



These birds are distinct from typical picirostris in the greater extent 

 of light color over the upper breast, lighter auricular region, paler 

 forehead, more extensive light streakings on the hindneck, and heavier 

 bill. They are nearly alhed to longirostris of Margarita Island in 

 greater extent of white on the breast and in larger bill, but they have 

 the light spots on the crown and hindneck larger, the light area on the 

 forehead more extensive, and the breast markings more buffy. The 

 breast is browner and lighter colored, less blackish. While I have 

 seen specimens from Parapara and El Sombrero only, it is probable 

 that this race extends across the northern llanos. 



