Todd-Carriker : Birds of Santa Marta Region, Colombia. 473 



end, the amount of marking varying greatly in different sets, and 

 even in different eggs of the same set." 



452. Icterus auricapillus Cassin. 



Icterus auricapillus Salvin and Godman, Ibis, 1880, 123 (Santa Marta). — • 

 ScLATER, Ibis, 1883, 363 (Santa Marta, in range). — Sclateh, Cat. Birds Brit. 

 Mus., XI, 1886, 377 (Santa Marta and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta). — 

 Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, XII, 1898, 139 ("Santa Marta"). — 

 Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., XIII, 1900, 162 (Bonda and Cacagualito) . 



Xanthomus auricapillus von Berlepsch and Hartert, Nov. Zool., IX, 1902, 31 

 (Santa Marta proposed as type-locality). 



Twenty-eight specimens: Bonda, Cacagualito, Mamatoco, Funda- 

 cion, Dibulla, Don Diego, and Santa Marta. 



This species is a near relative of Icterus cucullatus, from which it 

 differs conspicuously in lacking any white markings on the wings and 

 tail, and in having the lesser wing-coverts yellow. Its characters 

 seem to be very constant throughout its range, which includes the 

 greater part of Venezuela and Colombia. In juvenal dress, illustrated 

 by four specimens taken at dates varying from February 21 and May 

 12 to August 12, the species is pale yellow (baryta yellow) below, the 

 throat and sides of the head brighter (empire yellow to lemon chrome), 

 the lower throat usually more or less veiled with dusky olive, the back 

 and tail dull olive or buffy olive, the pileum and nape brighter, nearer 

 citrine, and the wings dusky, with paler edgings and narrow yellowish 

 white tips to the greater coverts. 



A species which is found only in the lowlands, as a rule below 1,000 

 feet. It is rather rare in the semi-arid district, but is commoner 

 at Don Diego, Dibulla, and Fundacion. It frequents cultivated or 

 open lands, or the trees along streams. 



Mr. Smith sent in three sets of eggs assigned to this species, of 

 three each, labelled respectively Mamatocoj April 21 ; Bonda, May 

 23 ; and Jordan, June 4. They are not distinguishable from those of 

 /. nigrogularis. The nest is of the usual Icterus type, and is attached 

 to the divided ends of a palm leaf, which continue beyond and partly 

 conceal it. It is composed entirely of one kind of palm fiber, giving 

 a very uniform appearance to the structure, with a few loose ends 

 hanging down, like drapery. 



