190 liROOKI.YX I.NSTiTrTE .MUSEUM. SCIE-VCE BULLETIN 2. 6. 
Sporophila boiivroitidcs Hcllmayr, Novit. Zool. XIII. 1906. p. 58; idem. 
XIV. 1907. p. 8. 
This species is nowhere common, but seems to be widely dis- 
tributed on the Orinoco, where it was noted and collected from Las 
Barrancas in the delta region and at various other points up as far 
as the mouth of the Apure River. Of four birds taken at Caicara. 
three show traces of a white spot on the forehead represented by a 
number of crown feathers with diamond-shaped median spots. Xo 
trace of a white crown spot was seen in other specimens e.xamined. 
Birds of this species seem to have a preference for open sjiaces in 
the forest rather than the open savanna regions. 
Eye seal brown : bill black : feet slate black. 
SroROPHiL.\ GUTTURALis GUTTi;RALis (Lichtcustein) . 
Friiu/illa (juttiiralis Licht., Verz. Doubl. 1823. p. 26. 
Sporophila gutturalis Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 26. 
Found all along the river from Ciudad Bolivar to above the falls. 
but nowhere common. 
In fresh birds, adult males, the e}e is seal brown ; bill plum- 
beous : feet dusky grey. 
DOLOSPINGUS XUCHALIS Elliot. 
Dolospingits nuchalis Elliot, Ibis 1871. p. 402. 
The type of this interesting species, in the .\merican Museum col- 
lection, is still the only known example. 
VOLATINI.\ JACARINI SPLENDENS (A'ieillot). 
FriiKjilla splcvidcns Vieill., Nouv. Diet. XII. 1817. p. 173. 
Volatinia jacarina splendens Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 27. 
Common both at Ciudad Bolivar and Caicara. Frequents bor- 
ders of thickets on the open sa\anna. 
On the 14th of June, at Caicara, a nest of this species was found 
containing three eggs, all of them pipped. The nest was m a tuft of 
grass, about 15 cm. from the ground, concealed by overhanging 
bushes. The eggs are pale bluish white, marked all over, but most 
thickly about the larger end, with reddish chestnut spots. The one 
egg saved measured 16.75 ^ i--5 "''"''■ 
Young males resemble the females. One of the birds taken at 
Caicara was in transitional plumage, from that of the female to that of 
the adult male. 
