1909] Beebe: Birds of Northeastern Venezuela. 105 



turning and leaving, made the air bright with their black and 

 yellow plumage. This was the largest colony which came under 

 our observation. 



At Guanoco we found them nesting in several trees close to 

 our house, there being thirty-five in one pomerosa tree. The 

 height of the nesting was over in early April, although new nests 

 were being built. 



Smaller colonies of from four to fifteen nests were scattered 

 at irregular intervals in the more open parts of the jungle — 

 each of these being grouped closely about a large wasps' nest. 

 At La Brea a medium sized, isolated tree, growing well out on 

 the pitch, held forty nests. 



We made careful inquiries concerning these birds and the 

 consensus of reports from many persons lent truth to the facts. 

 These "arrendajos," as the natives call them, nest principally in 

 February and March, then disappear entirely, not a bird being 

 seen for months. In August and September they return and 

 nest a second time, after which they again migrate or at least 

 disappear from this vicinity. 



These cassiques showed real intelligence in the selection of 

 a site for their nests. Monkeys, tree-snakes, opossums, and 

 other bird-eating creatures were abundant hereabouts, and for a 

 colony of these conspicuous birds to conceal their nests success- 

 fully would be impossible. So their homes are swung out in 

 full view of all. But, as we have seen, one or two precautions 

 are always taken. Either the birds choose a solitary tree which 

 fairly overhangs some thatched hut, or else the colony is clus- 

 tered close about one of the great wasps' nests which are seen 

 here and there high up among the branches of the forest. 



The Indians and native Venezuelans never trouble the birds, 

 which have been quick to realize and take advantage of this fact, 

 and weave their nests and care for their young almost within 

 arm's-reach of the thatched roofs. No monkey dares venture 

 here, and the mongrel dogs keep off all the small nocturnal car- 

 nivores. 



But a colony of cassiques which chooses to live in the jungle 

 itself would have short shrift, were it not for the strange com- 

 munal guardianship of the wasps. These insects are usually 

 large and venomous, and one sting would be enough to kill a 

 bird; indeed, a severe fever often ensues when a man has been 

 stung by half a dozen. So the birds must be in some way im- 

 mune to the attacks of the wasps. Perhaps their wonderfully 

 complete armour of feathers, scales and horny beak accounts for 

 this, while their quickness of vision and of action enables them 



