^°iS^^^l Phelps, Birds observed in Venezuela. 3^1 



point as did Goering in 1866 but by a different route. This 

 little side trip brought out, among other things, the very local 

 distribution of some tropical species. This was especially shown 

 by the abundance of Zonotrichia pileata in the valley of Caripe. 

 This species was wholly absent from the savannas about San 

 Antonio, although the character of the country in the two places 

 was identical. 



Fauna i position of Margarita. — The birds of the larger part of 

 Margarita, which island lies directly opposite Cumand, are similar 

 to those of the coastal zone, as the island possesses the same 

 characteristics as the country about Cumand. It seems, however, 

 that many of the forms inhabiting Margarita have differentiated, 

 since Mr. Charles W. Richmond hfis described no fewer than 

 eleven of the species brought back by Lieut. Robinson as new to 

 science. Most of them are birds of the cactus scrub, which 

 seem to be bleached out representatives of the species inhabiting 

 the adjacent mainland. Since these specimens were collected 

 during the summer, and as hitherto no summer skins have existed 

 from the mainland for comparison, it is interesting to compare my 

 Cumand skins, collected at the same season, with them. Owing 

 to the small number of specimens collected at Cumanti a satisfac- 

 tory comparison cannot be made. However, through the kindness 

 of Lieut. Robinson, I was enabled to examine many of his skins 

 and to compare them with mine. Although Mr. P. L. Sclater 1 

 doubts the validity of the Margaritan species I believe that good 

 series from both the island and Cumand will show distinctive 

 characters, although these will be less marked than was supposed. 

 The closeness to the mainland forms would indicate a no very 

 remote separation of the island from the continent, and that 

 some of the species are gradually assuming distinctive characters. 



If, then, a comparison of good series from both Margarita and 

 Cumand or Carupano establishes the validity of these insular 

 forms, a new district, the Margaritan, must be added to those 

 already defined by Dr. Ernst. 



Fainial position of Triftidad. — In working over my skins the 

 collections made in Trinidad by Mr. Frank M. Chapman were at 



' Ibis, 1897, III, pp. 282-284. 

 46 



