PASSERES — VIREONJD^E — VIREO. 121 



This bird winters in Texas and Mexico, and must pass rapidly over the southern States, 

 for they are rarely observed in those regions until they reach Pennsylvania. It is first seen 

 here at the commencement of May, and leaves us in September, having advanced north as 

 far as Nova-Scotia. It is not as common with us as the V. noveboracensis. It is said to 

 construct a pendulous nest, in which it deposits 4-5 white eggs spotted with reddish brown. 

 Its food in the spring and summer consists of caterpillars, small moths, wasps and wild bees ; 

 and in the autumn and winter, of seeds and berries. 



THE SOLITARY GREENLET. 



VlREO SOLITARITJS. 

 PLATE XXXV. FIG. 76. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Muscicapa solitaria. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol.2, p. 143, pi. 17, fig. 6. 



Vireo id. Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. Vol. 2, p. 70. Audubon, folio, pi. 28 ; Orn. Biog. 



Vol. 1, p. 147, and Vol. 5, p. 482. 

 Solitary Vireo. Nuttall, Man. Ornith. Vol. 1, p. 305. Audubon, B. of Am. Vol. 4, p. 144, pi. 239 (male and 

 female). Gikaud, Birds of Long island, p. 160. 



Characteristics. Dusky olive. Head bluish grey : line round the eye white. Breast pale 

 ash ; belly white, yellow on each side. Length, 5 inches. 



Description. Bill very short, and nearly as broad as in Muscicapa. Tail emarginate. 



Color. Back and upper tail-coverts dusky olive ; primaries and tail-feathers bordered with 

 light green. A line of white from the nostrils to the eye, which it encircles. Cheeks, upper 

 part of the head and neck dark bluish grey : a dusky spot before the eye. One, and more 

 frequently two whitish bands across the wings. Tail brownish black ; the outer feathers 

 edged with greyish white. Lower mandible, legs and feet pale bluish grey. Female: Head 

 dusky olive ; throat greenish. 



Length, 5'0-5"5. Alar extent, 8-0-8'5. 



This is the rarest of the genus found in this State. It winters in Mexico, according to 

 Lichtenstein, and has been traced as far north as Nova-Scotia. On the western side of the 

 continent, it extends to Columbia river. The specimen figured above, was shot, May, 1837, 

 near New-York city. Its eggs are 4-6 in number, light flesh-colored, and spotted with 

 brownish red at the larger end. Feeds on insects and berries. 



[Fauna — Part 2.] 16 



