Vol. XIV = By, Same . Peep 4 
r8a7 Puetps, Birds observed in Venezuela. 357 
Nucifraga columbiana.— Probably owing to the identity of their 
principal winter food this species and the Crossbill were coincidentally 
abundant during the winter of 1894-95, very rare during that of 1595-96, 
and again common during so much of the winter of 1896-97 as I was at 
the fort, these periods being marked by the abundance or failure of the 
crop of cones of acommon pine, upon the seeds of which both species 
chiefly fed. At other seasons Clark’s Nutcracker appeared irregularly, 
probably wandering down from the surrounding hills, as, early in July, I 
saw several families on the higher parts of Mica Peak. For the first time 
in my experience in the Northwest I found this usually shy and suspicious 
bird to be quite tame in winter, visiting the yards of the houses for such 
scraps as were to be found; and they were especially fond of pecking at 
bones left on the surface of the snow by dogs. Several were caught by 
cats and one by a soldier in his hands. 
(Zo be concluded.) 
BERD S OBSERVED TON Ao “COLLECTING” “TRIE TO 
BERMUDEZ, VENEZUELA. 
BY WILLIAM HENRY PHELPS. 
With Critical Notes and Descriptions of Two New Species, by Frank 
M. Chapman. 
IN THE year 1877 Dr. Adolfo Ernst! of Caracas divided Vene- 
zuela into four avifaunal districts: Eastern, Central, Cordilleran, 
and Lowland. The first comprises the group of mountains lying 
in the northeastern corner of the country, and is separated from 
the central district by the low country about Barcelona. The 
central district comprises the mountainous region along the 
northern coast, as far west as Barquisimeto. The high mountains 
to the west of this point are cordilleran and have affinities with 
the fauna of Colombia. The lowland region comprises all of 
that rolling country of plains and forests lying between this 
mountainous region of the north and the Orinoco River. The 
birds south of the river are Brazilian in their affinities and are 
'Estudios sobre la Flora y Fauna de Venezuela. Caracas. 1877, p. 287. 
