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Show 1870.] ON VENEZUELAN BIRDS. 779 the tympanum ; the nuchal spines are low, broad, triangular, strongly compressed laminae ; specimens with black radiating streaks through the eye are very common. This form requires to be named ; and I have great pleasure in dedicating it to Mr. Jerdon, who of late years has worked so successfully to supplement and correct the observations made by him many years ago. This species will stand as Calotes jerdoni. For the accompanying illustration (Plate XLV.) I have chosen specimens with different ornamental colours, the bright coloration of the head of the male of C. maria being peculiar to this sex during the breeding-season. 8. O n Venezuelan Birds collected by M r . A . Goering. By P. L. S C L A T E R , M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., and O S B E R T S A L V I N, M.A., F.L.S.-Part I V * (Plates XLVI., XLVII.) In our last article on Mr. Goering's collections we spoke of his intended expedition into the Sierra Nevada of Merida. The collection made by Mr. Goering during this journey has lately been received in this country, and we now proceed to give an account of it. As we have already stated, Mr. Goering reached Merida by way of the Lake of Maracaibo and Zuliar, arriving in that city on the 5th of April, 1869. From that date until the following August the weather was unusually dry. From Merida Mr. Goering made excursions to the Paramos de la Culata, which lie on the ridges to the north of the city, and also to the Sierra Nevada, which overhangs it on the south. He also visited the Laguna de Urao, or Natron Lake, which lies some miles to the west of Merida, and the Puente Natural, or Natural Bridge, of Copas, north-west of Merida on the River Copas, which flows into the Lake of Maracaibo, where there is a nesting-place of Steatornis caripensis. Leaving Merida on the 30th of October, 1869, Mr. Goering set out to return by land to Puerto Cabello, intending to collect en route. But on reaching Carache a revolution broke out, which rendered it necessary for him to retreat to the Lake of Maracaibo, and so by sea to La Guayra. In Merida and its vicinity Mr. Goering formed a collection of 135 specimens of birds, which are referable to 106 species. Amongst these, as will be seen by the subjoined list, are many of great interest to the naturalist, and not less than nine which appear to have been hitherto undescribed f. This is hardly to be wondered at when we * See Part I., P. Z. S. 1868, p. 165; Part II, P. Z. S. 1868, p. 626; and Part III., P. Z. S. 1869, p. 250. f Setophaga albifrons. Ochthoeca superciliosa. Diglossa gloriosa. nigrita. Chlorospingus goeringi. Conurus rhoclocephalus. Buarremon meridee. Urochroma dilectissima. Grallaria griseonucha. |
