78 VERTEBRATES: BIRDS. 



upon thorns and other sharp points, as a butcher hangs 

 up his meats upon sharp hooks in his stall. It builds 

 a large nest of twigs, grass, and moss, in the forks 

 of a tree. 



The Vireos are much smaller 

 than the Shrike, and mostly 

 olive-green above and light 

 below. The Red-eyed Vi- 

 reo has the iris of the eye 

 red. Its loud, clear notes 

 are heard in the tree-tops 



f . ,.,, ,. . Fig. 127. Warbling Vireo. 



from spring till late in au 



tumn. The White-eyed and the Warbling Vireo are 



small species, and their notes are very pleasant. 



MOCKING-BIRDS, &c. 



These birds are closely related to the Thrushes, and 

 are very sweet singers. The Mocking-Bird, of the 

 Southern States, is about the size of the robin, with a 



Fig. 128. Mocking-Bird. 



very long tail, and the color is ashy. It sings with 

 great sweetness, and readily imitates the songs of all 

 the birds which it hears. It is a very common pet in 

 cages. 



