BIRDS OF NORTHERN VENEZUELA — WETMORE 249 



GYMNOMYSTAX MEXICANUS (Linnaeus) 



Oriolus mexicanus Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 162 



(Cayenne «*). 



This fine species was recorded at Cagua on November 12, and in 

 the vicinity of El Sombrero it was common from November 13 to 20. 

 The birds were found in flocks sometimes in cultivated fields, sometimes 

 on open prairies, while often I saw them passing in flight overhead. 

 While they walked about over open ground and perched on posts and 

 other low elevations, at any alarm they flew into trees where they 

 often moved behind masses of leaves and creepers so that I could not 

 see them. Aside from this habit they resembled in mannerisms and 

 even in notes the familiar yellow-headed blackbird Xanthocephalus 

 xanthocephalus of the Western United States. Wliile often called 

 orioles, in manner of life they belong certainly with the blackbird 

 group. As they fly overhead the black feet show distinctly against 

 the clear yellow of the abdomen. At this season they were in molt. 

 Two adult females were prepared as skins on November 13 and 15. 



ICTERUS ICTERUS ICTERUS (Linnaeus) 



Oriolus Icterus Linnaetjs, Systema naturae, ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 161 

 ("Cayenne"). 



The trupial is a favored cage bird in Venezuela and is kept in many 

 homes. I frequently saw them in a wild state about Maracay but did 

 not have opportunity to collect specimens until I reached El Som- 

 brero, where I secured a pair on November 17. They frequent densely 

 leaved trees, and though I heard their pleasant whistled calls daily 

 it was often difficult to catch sight of them. Birds kept in captivity 

 after a time become decidedly paler in color. 



ICTERUS NIGROGULARIS NIGROGULARIS (Hahn) 



Xanthornus nigrogularis Hahn, Vogel aus Asien, Africa, America und NeuhoIIand, 

 livr. 5, 1819, pi. 1 (Jamaica, Mexico, and Cayenne).** 



The first of these orioles obtained was a female shot from a tree at 

 the edge of a pasture near Ocumare de la Costa on October 30. Near 

 El Sombrero, where they were common, five more were taken on 

 November 14, 15, 17, 18, and 21 (the last from Hato Paya). They 

 were found about groves of trees growing on the prairies, at the borders 

 of heavy woodlands, in open scrub growth, or along roadways, living 

 among branches and at this season of the year rather silent. 



M Designated by Berlepsch and Hartert, Nov. Zool., vol. 9, 1902, p. 32. 



M Hellmayr, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., zool. ser., vol. 13, pt. 10, 1937, p. 132, says that the type, in the Munich 

 Museum, is labeled Brazil. 



