VIUEOXIDJE — THE VIREOS. 367 



Vireosylvia pMladelphicus, Cassin. 



PHILADELPHIA GREENLET. 



Vircosiilvia philaddphica, Cassix, Tr. A. N. Su. V, Feb. 1857, 153. — Ib. VI, pi. i, fig. 1 

 (PhiliuU'lphia). — ScLATKR & Salvin, Ibis, I, 1859, 12 (Guatemala). — Baikd, Kev. 

 Am. Birds, 340. Virm pliiladeljAicits, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1S58, -335, pi. l.K.wiii, 

 fig. 3. Vircosijlvia cubanensis, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1860, 463 (Coban). — Ib. Ann. 

 Mag. N. H. 1861, 328. 



Sp. Char. (No. 20,043 (J.) Above dark olivt^-green, tinwod with plumbeous-ash ex- 

 cept on the rump ; top of head and nape purer plumbeous-ash, not edged with dusky, tlie 

 line of demarcation indistinct. Beneath light 

 snlphur-yellow, paler and almost white on chin 

 and middle of abdomen ; sides more olivaceous. 

 A whitish stripe from bill over eye, as also a 

 patch beneath it and the eyelids. A dusky 

 loral and post-ocular spot. Quills and rectrices 

 brown, edged externally with olive, internally 

 with whitish ; the larger coverts with paler 

 outer edges. Bill blackish, paler plumbeous v. pMiadelphku,. 



below. Legs plumbeous. Spurious outer or first quill (seen in j/fVrn) wanting ; the outer 

 about equal to fifth; third longest; second and fourth not much shorter. Total length, 

 4.80 ; wing, 2.05 ; tail, 2.25. 



Has. Eastern North America to Hudson's Bay and Maine, south (in winter) to Costa 

 Rica and Guatemala. Veragua (Salvi.n). Not recorded li'om Mexico or West Indies. 



Specimens vary somewhat in purity of tints, and especially in intensity 

 of yellow of under parts, which color is deeper in autumnal skins. 



Specimens from Costa Rica and Guatemala, being merely winter visitors 

 to that region, are quite identical with North American examples. 



Habits. This but little known species was first described by Mr., Cassin, 

 in 1851, from a specimen shot by him in some woods near Philadelphia nine 

 years previously, whicli was tlieu unique, and remained so for some time after. 

 Tliis fact, and its resemblance to V. gilva, led to the impression that it might 

 be only a variety of that sjjecies. Since the publication of the description 

 other specimens have been procured from different localities, — iloose Fac- 

 tory, Maine, Ohio, Wisconsin, Costa Ilica, and Guatemala. But little is as yet 

 known in regard to its habits or its distribution. It is quite abundant in the 

 spring in Southern Wisconsin, where it appears only as a migrant passing 

 north, none remaining to breed. As it makes its appearance late in ^lay, and 

 usually passes rapidly on, it seems natural to infer that it cannot be far from 

 its breeding-) )lace at the period -of its appearance. The specimen obtained 

 by iMr Cassin was shot in September, on its southward journey. It was in 

 tlie upper branches of a high tree, cajituring insects ; and his attention was 

 drawn to it by its slow and deliberate movements. 



]Mr. Tliure Kumlien, of Pane County, Wis., informs me that he has been 

 familiar with this Vii'eo since 1849, and lias collected it every year since 



