240 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM Vol.87 



in company with other small forest birds. It seemed a most unusual 

 type of wren. 



TROGLODYTES MUSCULUS CLARUS Berlepsch and Hartert 



Troglodytes musculus clarus Berlepsch and Habtbrt, Nov. Zool., vol. 9, Apr. 

 1902, p. 8 (Bartica Grove, British Guiana). 



This house wren was seen at all points visited, beginning wdth the 

 groimds of the American Legation at Caracas on October 17. At 

 Ocumare de la Costa one was taken on October 28, and birds were in 

 song about the house where I lived during the rest of my stay. In 

 the mountains, near Rancho Grande, the wren was found in clearings 

 about houses, and one was taken on November 7 at Los Riitos. Near 

 El Sombrero the bird was common, and a breeding male was taken 

 on November 20 near the Rio Guarico, where, with a female in attend- 

 ance, it was singing about holes in trees along an old road. The song, 

 while generally similar to that of Troglodytes aMon of the United 

 States, is sharper in tone and more emphatic, particularly at its close. 

 Part of the scolding notes, however, are distinctly different. The 

 bird frequents tangles of vines and low bushes near the ground, and 

 in its habits seems identical with the northern house wrens. 



HENICORHINA LEUCOPHRYS VENEZUELENSIS Hellmayr 



Henicorhina leucophrys venezuelensis Hellmatr, Journ. fiir Orn., 1903, p. 530 

 (Mount Bucarito, near Tocuyo, Estado Lara, Venezuela). 



Near Rancho Grande from November 2 to 10 this wren was one of 

 the commonest birds of the heavy forest. Six specimens were taken. 

 The birds ranged in the densest woodland, and were seen up to 4,000 

 feet elevation, probably going higher. They were also found where 

 the thickets were sufficiently dense alone the roadways when the for- 

 est proper had been cleared away. They ranged near the ground, 

 being partial to dead falls and similar shelter, always in damp, shad- 

 owy locations where their dull colors made it difficult to see them ex- 

 cept when they were in motion. They were tame and frequently 

 came within a few feet of me. 



They were found always in pairs. The loud, clear song, to be de- 

 scribed as vociferous rather than highly musical, was given ordinarily 

 as a duet in which both male and female joined. One bird, presum- 

 ably the male, begins with notes of two or three kinds, while the 

 other sounds a single call that is given in sequence in the intervals 

 between calls of the other, so that at a httle distance the whole sounds 

 like the effort of one individual. Only with the birds near the observer 

 can the two be separated. If one gives the calls first mentioned with- 

 out response from its mate immediately it ceases to sing. The two range 

 in company exactly as do the Carolina wrens Thryothorus ludonicianus 

 of the United States. 



