CHERRIE: ORNITHOLOGY OF THE ORINOCO REGION. 327 



In the neighborhood of Caicara there were several barrancas 

 (ravines) whose steep sides afforded nesting places for these king- 

 fishers. At such points they were found most frequently associating 

 in little colonies of four or five pairs. But at a point on the main 

 river (the Orinoco) some eight miles above Caicara, there is a high 

 sand bank facing the river. At this point there is a colony of about 

 one hundred and fifty pairs of these birds. The nest cavity is from 

 one to three metres back from the face of the bluff; the tunnel runs 

 horizontally straight back and is from 8 to 12 cm. in diameter. The 

 breeding season lasts from June to August. 



CHLOROCERYLE AMAZON A (Latham). 

 Alcedo amazona Lath., Ind. Orn. I. 1790. p. 257. 

 Ceryle americana Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 105. 



Eye dark seal brown; bill and feet black. 



Not uncommon. Noted at all points visited on the Orinoco and 

 recorded from the Caura. 



CHLOROCERYLE AMERICANA AMERICANA (Gmelin). 

 Alcedo americana Gm., Syst. Nat. I. 1788. p. 451. 

 Ceryle americana Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 105. 



Eye dark seal brown ; bill black ; feet dusky blackish. 



Common at all points visited. 



MOMOTIDAE THE MOTMOTS. 



There are only two species known to me from our region. Both 

 were collected on the upper Orinoco beyond the second falls, and were 

 not observed below that point. 



MOMOTUS MOMOTA (Linnaeus). 



Ramphastos momota, L., Syst. Nat. ed. 12. 1766. p. 152. 

 Momotus momota Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 105. 



Eye vermilion; bill black, smoke grey at base of mandible; feet 

 dark smoke grey. 



Rare. One specimen taken on the upper river at Nericagua. 

 Probably not uncommon on the Caura River, as it was collected by 

 both Andre and Klages, and recorded by Berlepsch and Hartert from 

 Suapure, Nicare and La Pricion. 



