238 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM Vol. 87 



considerable material I offer the following segregation into geo- 

 graphic races: 



Heleodytes NUCHALI8 NUCHALI8 (Cabanis) t 



Campylorhynchus nuchalis Cabanis, Arch. Naturg., vol. 13, 1847, p. 206 (Cumand, 

 Venezuela) . 



Less heavily spotted below, throat and upper foreneck unmarked, bill 

 smaller. 



A fair series from Cumand and San Felix show the extreme develop- 

 ment of these characters, being less heavily marked below than birds 

 from the Orinoco, 



Orinoco Valley from Caicara to Ciudad Bolivar (probably farther) 

 extending to the northeast to the Cumand, region. 

 Heleodytes nuchalis brevipennis (Lawrence): 



Campylorhynchus brevipennis Lawrence, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, vol. 

 8, 1866, p. 344 (Venezuela). 



Much more heavily spotted below, the markings extending over 

 foreneck, blackish crown markings more extensive and prominent, 

 gray of crown darker, bill large and heavy. 



Northern Venezuela south through the Aragua Valley. 



Heleodytes nuchalis pardus (Sclater): 



Campylorhynchus pardus Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1857 (Jan. 1858), 

 p. 271 (Santa Marta, Colombia). 



Black spottings on lower surface reduced, pileum lighter gray, bill 

 large and heavy. 



Northern Colombia, including Santa Marta region. 



The specimen from El Sombrero is intermediate toward nuchalis 

 but shows more of the characters of brevipennis. The bird from Cagua 

 also seems to verge a little toward the southern form. 



HELEODYTES MINOR MINOR Cabania 



Heleodytes minor Cabanis, Museum Heineanum, pt. 1, 1851, p. 80 (Venezuela). 



Near El Sombrero these large wrens were found in groves on the 

 Meseta or along the borders of the adjacent scrub. Their croaking, 

 choking calls were similar to those of the related form with barred 

 and spotted plumage Heleodytes nuchalis, but were harsher, suggest- 

 ing even more the grotesque calls of some frog or toad. In calling 

 they often pose with swelling throat, bill pointed perpendicularly, 

 and the tail hanging straight down. These birds sought cover but 

 were found both near the ground and high in the trees, where they 

 examined bark and leaves in search of food. They were seen usually 

 in pairs and were quite tame. 



These specimens show no approach to H. m. albicilius. 



