Vol. XIV 
ae PHELPS, Birds observed in Venezuela. 361 
point as did Goering in 1866-but by a different route. This 
little side trip brought out, among other things, the very local 
distribution of some tropical species. This was especially shown 
by the abundance of Zonotrichia pileata in the valley of Caripe. 
This species was wholly absent from the savannas about San 
Antonio, although the character of the country in the two places 
was identical. 
faunal position of Margarita.— The birds of the larger part of 
Margarita, which island lies directly opposite Cuman4, are similar 
to those of the coastal zone, as the island possesses the same 
characteristics as the country about Cumand. It seems, however, 
that many of the forms inhabiting Margarita have differentiated, 
since Mr. Charles W. Richmond has described no fewer than 
eleven of the species brought back by Lieut. Robinson as new to 
science. Most of them are birds of the cactus scrub, which 
seem to be bleached out representatives of the species inhabiting 
the adjacent mainland. Since these specimens were collected 
during the summer, and as hitherto no summer skins have existed 
from the mainland for comparison, it is interesting to compare my 
Cumana skins, collected at the same season, with them. Owing 
to the small number of specimens collected at Cumané a satisfac- 
tory comparison cannot be made. However, through the kindness 
of Lieut. Robinson, I was enabled to examine many of his skins 
and to compare them with mine. Although Mr. P. L. Sclater! 
doubts the validity of the Margaritan species I believe that good 
series from both the island and Cumand will show distinctive 
characters, although these will be less marked than was supposed. 
The closeness to the mainland forms would indicate a no very 
remote separation of the island from the continent, and that 
some of the species are gradually assuming distinctive characters. 
If, then, a comparison of good series from both Margarita and 
Cumand or Cartpano establishes the validity of these insular 
forms, a new district, the Margaritan, must be added to those 
already defined by Dr. Ernst. 
faunal position of Trinidad.— In working over my skins the 
collections made in Trinidad by Mr. Frank M. Chapman were at 
'TIbis, 1897, III, pp. 282-284. 
