CHERRIE: ORXITHOLOGY OF THE ORINOCO REGION. 205 
of soft dead grasses, others are without Hning. They average about 
38 cm. in length and 15 cm. in diameter, but Httle constricted at the top. 
The colonies are frequently so compact that three and four nests 
may press one against another and actually be woven one to another. 
Two eggs constitute a set and there is considerable variation in 
shape and size between the various sets, but not between the eggs of 
individual sets. In five sets that I have before me there are good ex- 
amples of ovate, elongate ovate and cylindrical ovate. The measure- 
ments of the five sets are 26.75x18.5 and 27.5x19.5; 27.75x19 and 
27x18.75; 29.5x17.75 and 31x17.75; 27.25x18.5 and 28x18.5; 
27 x 18.25 and 28.25 -"^ 18.75 inm- The color is white with a faint bluish 
wash, marked with specks, spots and blotches of chestnut over vinaceous 
brown. In some eggs the markings are pretty evenly distributed over 
the entire tgg; in others they are almost confined to large blotches in a 
ring about the larger end. 
The colors in fresh birds are: eye azure blue; bill pale sulphur 
yellow : feet black. 
Cacicus haemorehous haemorrhous (Linnaeus). 
Oriolits haemorrhous L.. Syst. Nat. ed. 12. I. 1766. p. 161. 
Cassicits haemorrhous Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 31. 
This was the only form of Cacicus observed on the Orinoco above 
the falls of Atures and was found there almost as abundantly as was 
C. cela on the lower and middle stretches of the river. 
Icterus chrysocephalus (Linnaeus). 
Oriolus chrysoceplialns L., Syst. Nat. ed. 12. I. 1766. p. 164. 
Xaitthornus chrysocephalus Berlepsch & Hartert. p. 31. 
Native name Moriche. Specimens were secured in the vicinity of 
the first falls in the river, at Perico, and from that point onward up 
stream. I also noted this species in the trees along the river bank at 
several points below Ciudad Bolivar. It is somewhat remarkable that it 
was nowhere observed between Bolivar and the falls of Atures. 
Orioles of this species are much sought after as cage birds by the 
natives and are sold often at from three to ten dollars each. 
Icterus auricapiij.us Cassin. 
Icterus auricapillus Cass.. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. III. 1847. p. t,t,2. 
Xanthormis auricapillus Berlepsch & Hartert. p. 31. 
