CHERRIE: ORNITHOLOGY OF THE ORINOCO REGION; IQ5 



Four nests and sets of eggs of this species were collected during 

 the 1907 expedition. The first was taken the 8th of May and the last 

 June 23rd. The eggs collected were fresh in each case. The set 

 taken June 23rd contained five eggs. An interesting coincidence in 

 the collecting of this season was the taking of a nest and set of eggs 

 of this species (June I3th) from the same crevice in a stone wall as 

 the set taken June 17, 1905 and described above. 



From our observations and the material at hand we may conclude 

 that the nesting season lasts from the middle of April to the end of 

 June, and sets vary from three to five in number. 



SICALIS ARVENSIS MINOR Cabanis. 



Sicalis minor Cab., in Schomb. Reise Brit. Guiana III. 1848. p. 679. 

 Serin opsis arz>ensis minor Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 28. 



Inhabits the open savannas where it is more frequently seen on 

 the ground than perched in the low trees and bushes growing there 

 in scattering clumps. The nest is placed in the tall marsh grass 

 bordering inland ponds or streams. 



A nest taken at San Mateo de Caicara May i6th in open swampy 

 land was placed in a thick bunch of grass about 30.5 cm. from )the 

 ground. It contained three slightly incubated eggs, ovate in form, 

 pale bluish green in color, two of the eggs being speckled and spotted 

 all over with brown varying in color from vandyke to chocolate, the 

 third with the markings confined chiefly to a distinct ring about the 

 larger end. The eggs measure 16.5 x 12.75, ][ 6-75 x 13 and 16.5 x 12.5 

 mm. The nest is rather neat, and compactly built; it is composed 

 entirely of dry grasses, the outside course and the lining soft and fine. 

 It measures outside 7.5 cm. diameter by 6 cm. deep; inside 4 cm. diameter 

 by 2.5 cm. deep. 



The song of this species is usually given while on the wing. I 

 have frequently seen the male birds spring from the ground and rise 

 to a height of thirty or forty feet, singing as they dropped on flutter- 

 ing wings. 



BRACK YSPIZA CAPENSIS (P. L. S. Miiller). 



Pringilla capensis P. L. S. Miiller, Natursyst. Suppl. 1776. p. 165. 

 Brachyspisa capensis Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 28. 



Two specimens, adult male and female, were taken April 6th, 

 1898, in a thicket bordering a low range of hills near Quiribana de 



