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Frederick D. Welch—Some Crows



hybrids between Chickens and Guinea-fowls, and some Curassows, of

which two species — Pauxis pauxi and Mitua tomentosa — are of special

interest.


Perched on fences are some Guans, Penelope montagnii, and Ortalis

ruficauda, and a few Red Ibis. I have, however, left to the last the gem

of the whole collection — a magnificent pair of Kamichis (?), which with

full wings are at perfect liberty. As we approach the male is on the

ground. He does not move, but makes his hostility to us apparent by

his behaviour and deafening cries. The female, perched on the top of

a young tree, answers his call by a more subdued cry, and proceeds to

fly heavily round and round. It is impossible to get tired of watching

these handsome birds. I notice that their frontal horns, which measure

more than 10 centimetres, are thin, flat, white, and resemble a slender

whale-bone.


On the shores of the Lake of Valencia, among the reeds, a few

Manassius (?), some Flv-catchers, Fluvicida pica, and numerous Marsh-

birds are to be seen. Jacanas are also to be observed gracefully flying

to and fro. Everywhere, running about on the roads, we come across

numbers of Scaly Ground Doves ( Scardafella ridgwayi), Passerine and

Talpacoti Doves ( Columbino griseola and C. tcdpacoti). The bushes in

this part of Venezuela are full of birds — various kinds of Tanagers,

Troupials, Tyrants, of which the magnificent “ Bull-blood ”

(Pyrocephalus saturatus ) is of brilliant scarlet. On the farms Hang-

nests abound, and all the trees harbour enormous nests made of twigs,

the work of the very common Grey Ant-eater; finally the houses are

treated to the beautiful song of the Agile Wren ( Troglodytes clarus).


The ornithological fauna of the neighbourhood of Valencia, Puerta

Cabell a, etc., does not differ to any extent from that of Caracas.


(To be continued.)



SOME CROWS


By Frederick D. Welch


The early experiences of people have, I suppose, some part in framing

their likings in after years when they are growing up into manhood

or womanhood. Be that as it may, some of the birds which were intro¬

duced the earliest into my life in childhood were Crows ; and it turned



