VIREOXID.E — THE VIREOS. 3f,X 



and is thus eutilled to a plnce in our foiina. Its distinction from a closely 

 allied race in Jamaica, Hayti, etc., var. mlidris, is sliown on page 359. 



A specimen heluuging to jMr. Salvin (" N"o. 187 "), from " Isthmus of Pana- 

 ma," we cannot distinguish satisfactorily from typical e.x'amples of the present 

 race, with wliich it is to be compared, and not witii mlidris. Tlie colors are 

 quite identical with those of barhatuhify. In size it is slightly larger, the 

 wing measuring o:>r> instead of 3.15 ; the tail l^oO, in.stead of 2.35 (from 

 exposed base of feathers) ; the bill is thicker, being .20 instead of .18 deep ; 

 the third quill is longest, the second intermediate between it and the fourth ; 

 tlie first intermediate between the fourth and fifth. In 5ar6«/'?//M.s the second 

 is longest, the tiiird and fourth successively a little sliorter. It is not 

 improbable that other specimens from that locality ma}^ show greater differ- 

 ences, as the specimen under examination is in ratlun- worn plumage, and 

 lias the tip of the biU broken off 



Habits. This species only claims a place in our avifauna on the ground 

 of its presence in Florida. How abundant it is there is not determined, fur- 

 tlier than it has been observed witiiin a restricted locality by Dr. Ileermann. 

 This was at Charlotte Harbor, on the soutliwestern coast. They appeared 

 to be visitors only, from a more soutliorn clime. They reached Florida in 

 their northern migrations, remaining only for a short season, but evidently 

 staying long enough to breed. Dr. Heermann states tliat this species resem- 

 bles, in manners and in apjaearance, the common Red-eyed Vireo of the 

 more northern States. He describes its song as clear and musical, and very 

 distinctly uttered. It was constantly on the search for insects, and appeared 

 even more active than any of the northern s{)ecies, darting among the foliage, 

 peering into crevices and cobwebs, suspended from branches witli its back 

 downward, and occasionally chasing a flying insect in the manner of a true 

 Flycatcher. Tliese movements were usually accompanied by a song. This 

 species was not abundant, though Dr. Heermann saw it frequently, and 

 obtained several specimens. 



Dr. Bryant found this species very abundant at the Bahamas, arriving 

 there about the first of ^Fay. All tlie specimens lie obtained were males, 

 the females not arriving tliere until after the loth of May. The notes of 

 tliese birds, he states, vary, though tlie most common one resembles ichlp 

 torn Mll'Cj iihcfiu, pronouncing the first word distinctly. 



This bird,^ in Brown's History of Jamaica, is called " "\Vliip-tom-kelly," 

 from the supposed resemblance of its notes to these articulate sounds, and 

 this popular appellation has been given it by various other writers. Mr. 

 Oo.sse, however, in his Birds of Jamaica, calls this bird " John-to-whit," and 

 can find no resemblance in its notes to tlie words referrcHl to. He describes 

 its song as uttered with incessant iteration and untiring energy, and as 

 resembling Sirrrf-Jahn ! John to whit ! sired John to vhit ! After July the 



' Tlifi Jaiiiaie:in liinl i.s V. aitiitrU, not bai-b((.lu/i(s. hi aU piobability, however, they do not 

 ilillVr in habits ami notes. — R. R. 

 46 



