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368 Phelps, Birds observed in Venezuela. \s^a 



Basileuterus vermivorus olivascens Chapm. Common in San Antonio 

 in the underbrush, especially near water. 



[Four specimens agree with a series of eight examples, including the 

 type, from Trinidad.— F. M. C] 



Ammodramus manimbe {Lic/iL). Common in the savannas. 



[ Three adults agree exactly in color with specimens from Matto Grosso, 

 Brazil, in corresponding plumage, but are considerably smaller. The 

 average measurements, in inches, of the three Venezuelan birds and four 

 from Matto Grosso are as follows: 



The Venezuelan birds have, therefore, shorter wings and tail but equally 

 long tarsi, facts which suggest that they may be more sedentary than the 

 birds of southern Brazil. — F. M. C] 



Icterus xanthornus {Gm.). [An immature female, apparently in its 

 second year, has the wings fuscous, the tail brownish yellow, the back 

 greenish, but otherwise resembles the adult. A bird of the year is simi- 

 larly colored but has only four black feathers on the throat. Neither 

 plumage appears to have been previously described. — F. M. C] 



Elainea pagana (Lic/ii.). [Five specimens in worn plumage are typical 

 of this species. — F. M. C] 



[Elainea albiventris, sp. nov. 



Char. Sp. — Similar to Elainea pagana albiceps but Avith the upper 

 parts much greener and the under parts whiter. 



Description of type (No. iiSo, Coll. W. H. P., Cumanacoa, Venezuela 

 July 3, 1S97, W. H. Phelps). Upper parts uniform olive-green with a 

 barely perceptible brownish tinge ; wings fuscous, the greater and lesser 

 coverts tipped Avith dingy yellowish white forming two conspicuous 

 wing-bars; outer margin of the terminal part of the inner secondaries 

 dingy yellowish white ; tail fuscous, the feathers margined externally 

 with brownish olive-green, the under surface of their shafts nearly pure 

 ■white \ a concealed white crown-patch; throat and \>rt&?,t grayish -white; 

 middle of the belly zvhite ; sides of the breast, sides, and flanks washed 

 with greenish yellow; under wing-coverts lemon yellow; crissum pale 

 yellow. Wing, 2. 68; tail, 2.34; tarsus, .72; exposed culmen, .34; 

 breadth of bill at anterior end of nostril, .16. 



This species is represented in Mr. Phelps's collection by four adult 

 specimens, one male and three females, which are just completing the 

 (post-breeding) moult. It is only after careful comparison of these speci- 

 mens with a large series of Elainea p. albiceps from southern Brazil that 

 I have decided to add a species to an already overburdened genus. The 



