PASSERES VIREONIDJS VIREO. 123 



THE WARBLING GREENLET. 



ViREO GILVUS. 

 PLATE XXXIV. FIG. 74. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



STuscicapa gilva. Vieillot, Ois. de 1'Amerique, pi. 34. S. gilva, Id. Nouv. Diet. 



ST. melodia. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 5, p. 85, pi. 42, fig. 2. 



Vireo gilvus. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 70. Acdcbon, folio, pi. 118 ; Orn. Biog. Vol. 2. p. 114, 



and Vol. 5, p. 433. 

 Warbling Vireo. Ncttall, Man. Ornith. Vol. 1, p. 309. Audobon, Birds of Am. Vol. 4, p. 149, pi. 241 (male 



and female). 

 Warbling Greenlet. Girahd, Birds of Long island, p. 161. 



Characteristics. Pale green olive ; head and neck ash ; beneath, and line over the eye 

 whitish. Wings not banded. Irides brown. Bill short. First and fifth 

 primaries equal. Length, 5 inches. 



Description. Bill broad and short, distinctly curved and notched, 0*5 long to the rictus. 

 Tail emarginate, extending 1 ■ 2 beyond the tips of the closed wings. 



Color. Above pale green, mixed with ash on the neck and shoulders. The line over the 

 eye, noticed in the specific phrase, was not obvious in the specimen from which our descrip- 

 tion was taken. Lower parts whitish ; sides of the body, and beneath the wings, pale 

 greenish yellow. Legs and feet light blue. Wings and tail brown ; the feathers edged 

 with light green. Lower mandible flesh-colored. Iris hazel. 



Length, 5"0. Alar extent, 7 - 5. 



This musical little bird reaches us from tropical America about the beginning of May, and 

 breeds in various parts of the State. It has not yet been noticed in the States south of Vir- 

 ginia, from which we infer that its transit through those regions must be very rapid. Along 

 the Atlantic coast, it has been seen as far north as 46°, and on the western side of the conti- 

 nent to Columbia river. It builds a pendant nest, which contains 4-6 white eggs, with con- 

 fluent spots and thread-like brown lines on the larger end. Feeds on caterpillars, and various 

 seeds and berries. Leaves us in the early part of October. 



16* 



