210 Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



The Groove-billed Ani is one of the most common and widely dis- 

 tributed species with which the writer is acquainted. It is found 

 throughout the lowlands and foothills of Central America, Colombia, 

 and Venezuela, everywhere in open country, either natural or cleared. 

 It is always seen in pastures with the cattle, feeding on the large wood- 

 ticks which infest them when living in the hot lowlands. The nest 

 is built in some thick thorny tree, several females using' it at once. A 

 curious and degenerate species of cuckoo. Simons says that it is 

 " known here as ' Lucia,' also ' Gallinazito,' from its scavenger-like 

 liabits. Very common all along the sea-shore, congregating in troops' 

 and making a great noise. On alighting they always wag their tail 

 three times." 



140. Crotophaga major Gmelin. 



Twenty-five specimens: Mamatoco, Fundacion, Trojas de Cataca, 

 Dibulla, and Tucurinca. 



In two young birds (Fundacion, August 10) the glossy edgings of 

 the feathers are less developed, especially on the head and under parts ; 

 the ridge of the culmen is much less prominent. 



According to the experience of the writer this species is found only 

 near sea-level, along the banks of the larger rivers or lagoons. It is 

 an abundant bird around the marshes at Fundacion, as well as along 

 all the larger streams between the railroad and the Cienaga Grande, 

 staying in or near the vegetation over the water. Like C. sulcirostris, 

 it always goes in flocks, but unlike its relative it is a very shy bird as 

 a rule, and hard to approach closely. The call-note, too, is quite dif- 

 ferent from that of the other species. 



141. Tapera naevia naevia (Linnaeus). 

 Two specimens : Fundacion. 



At first glance Colombian specimens appear to differ from topotyp- 

 ical Cayenne birds in their generally lighter, more bufify upper parts, 

 but when care is taken to compare only those specimens which are in 

 the same state of plumage the differences tend to disappear. A series 

 from Bolivia is rather grayer above, but it is by no means ciear that 

 they represent a recognizable form. At the northern limit of the 

 range of the species the maximum of size is reached, and this large 

 form is recognized by Mr. Ridgway under the subspecific designation 

 of excellens. Seasonal and age variation plays so large a part in any 



