184 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



vicinity I was sure, but owing to the character of the covert they 

 were not found. Specimens of this species may invariably as far 

 as my experience goes be separated from those of V. yilvus by the 

 greater intensity of yellow on the former, as well as by the quill 

 characters." 



Vireo gilvus (Vieill.) 



WABBLING VIKEO. 



Popular synonyms. Warbling Greenlet, or Flycatcher. 



Muscicapa gilva VIEILL. Ois. Am. Sept. i, ISO?, 65, pi. 34. 



Vireo ilvus BP. NUTT. Man. i, 1832, 309. AUD. Orn. Biog. ii,1834, 114, pi. 118; Synop. 



18^9,161; B. Am. iv, 1842, 149, pi. 241. BAIRD, B. N. Am. 1858. 335; Cat, N. Am. B. 1859, 



No. 245. COUES, Key, 1872, 120; Check List, 1873, No. 125; 2d ed. 1882. No. 174; B. N. W. 



1874,97; B. Col. Val. 1878,501. 



Vireosylvia gilva CASS. BAIKD, Be view, 1806,342. B. B. & K. Hist. N. Am. B. i, 1874, 368, 



pi. 17, fig. 3. RIDGW. Norn, N. Am. B. 1881, No. 139. 

 Muscicapa melodia WILS. Am. Orn. v. 1812, 85, pi. 42, fig. 3. 



HAS. Eastern North America, north to Fort Garry; winter habitat unknown, but 

 probably Gulf States, there being no extra-limital record. In the Western United States 

 replaced by a slightly grayer, smaller-billed race, the V. swansoni of BAIBD (B. N. Am. 

 1858,336, in text), of identical habits. 



"Sp. CHAB. (No. 1, (17 female.) Above olive-green, strongly glossed with ashy, the 

 head and nape above more distinctly ashy, but without decided line of demarcation 

 behind, and without dusky edge; rump pure olive. Stripe from nostrils over eye to 

 nape, eyelids, and space below eye, creamy white. A rather dusky postoeular and 

 loral spot, the latter not extending to the bill. Under parts white, with tinge of greenish 

 yellow (occasionally of creamy fulvous or buffi, especially on breast; sides more oliva- 

 ceous. Crissum and axillars scarcely more yellowish. Quills and rectrices wood-brown, 

 edged internally with whitish, extern .lly with olivaceous, except perhaps on longer 

 primaries. Edge of wing white. Larger wing- coverts grayish brown, with paler edges, 

 and no trace of olivaceous. Bill horn-color above, paler below. 



"First quill very short or spurious; second about equal to, generally rather longer 

 than, sixth; third longest; fourth, then fifth a little shorter. 



"Fresh specimen: Total leneth, 5.33; expanse of wings, 8.35; wing from carpal joint, 

 2.85. Prepared specimen: Total length, 4.80; wing, 2. 75; tail, 2.25. Sexes alike. Iris brown." 



This charming little bird is abundant in all cultivated portions of 

 the country, and even where the population is sparse and the 

 forests extensive, it is more or less common along the margins of 

 streams and edges of the woods. It is particularly numerous among 

 the large silver-maples and associate trees which droop their grace- 

 ful foliage over the banks of the larger streams, while in all towns 

 having abundance of shade trees along the streets it is one of the 

 commoner and more familiar species. 



The Warbling Vireo was a special favorite of Dr. Thomas M. 

 Brewer, who gives the following pleasing account of it in History of 

 North American Birds (Vol. I., p. 369) : 



