CHERRIE: ORNITHOLOGY OF THE ORINOCO REGION. 245 



EMPIDONOMUS VARIUS (Vieillot). 



Muscicapa varia Vieill., Nouv. Diet. XXI. 1818. pp. 458, 459. 

 Empidonomus varius Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 51. 



Not uncommon in the denser clumps of timber bordering shal- 

 low streams on the savannas and also frequenting- the borders of the 

 heavy timber growth along the Orinoco. 



Immature birds differ from the adults in not having the tips of 

 the primaries abruptly attenuated, nor- have they the yellow crown 

 patch. A male in Juvenal plumage (taken at Caicara, May ist) has the 

 entire top of the head covered with rather short blackish feathers nar- 

 rowly margined with ferruginous ; the back is brownish black with 

 ferruginous edges to the feathers ; wings and tail brownish black, 

 the rectrices broadly margined on both webs with ferruginous ; prim- 

 aries, lesser and median coverts narrowly margined with buffy 

 rufous, greater coverts and inner primaries margined with white. 

 That the yellow crown patch is not assumed until after the second 

 moult is indicated by an immature female, taken at Caicara June iQth, 

 that is just assuming the adult plumage. 



The crown is pale dusky brownish sprinkled with a few black 

 feathers with bright yellow bases. The edges of the back feathers 

 and wing-coverts, as in the case of the immature male, are rufous. 

 The abdomen is a pale sulphur yellow, very much brighter in color 

 than in any of the adults before me. 



The food of this Flycatcher consists largely of berries and other 

 small fruits. 



TYRANNUS DOMINICENSIS (Gmelin). 



Laniits tyrannus B. dominicensis Gm., Syst. Nat. I. 1788. p. 302. 

 Tyrannus dominicensis Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 52. 



Observed in the immediate vicinity of the river only and noted 

 as not uncommon from the delta region up as far as Ciudad Bolivar. 

 Occasionally specimens were noted as far up as the mouth of the 

 Apure River. 



This species was nesting at Agua Salada de Ciudad Bolivar, in 

 April. The nest is similar in construction to that of T. melancholiciis. 



TYRANNUS MELANCHOUCUS SATRAPA (Cabanis & Heine). 

 Laphyctes satrapa Cab. & Hein., Mus. Hein., II. 1859. p. 77. 

 Tyrannus melcmcholicns Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 52. 



