386 NOKTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



In the winter niuiiths this species retires to the more southern States, ami 

 to Mexico and Central and South America, thougli Suniiclirast does not give 

 it as occurring in the Department of Vera Cruz. Nuttall fnund it in South 

 Carolina in the middle of January, and Wilson met with them in full song in 

 Georgia in February. The fact that it was seven weeks after this before they 

 made their appearance in Pennsylvania is given by that writer as evidence 

 of the gradual progression made by this species iu its movements northward, 

 regulated by the development of the season. Audubon, however, states the 

 first of March as about the time of its first appearance in Louisiana. He 

 also mentions that this species is a constant resident in the Floridas dur- 

 ing winter, and also in the lower portions of Alabama and Georgia. A 

 large number also pass farther south, as is shown by the abundance of the 

 arrivals in eaily spring on the coast of Texas. Jlr. Audubon states also 

 that Townseiid met with them on the C^olumbia liiver, and that he himself 

 found them along the coast in Maine, Nova Scotia, and Labrador. This, 

 however, I am inclined to consider a misstatement, as they have not since 

 been detected either west of Dakota or north of tlie 42d parallel. 



This Vireo is one of the most conspicuous singers of this family. Its 

 songs are more earnest and louder than tiiose of any of our Eastern species, 

 and exhibit the greatest variations, beginning in the earlier part of tlie sea- 

 son with a simple low whistle, but changing in i\Iay into a very quaint and 

 peculiar succession of irregular notes. Some of these are very softly and 

 sweetly whistled, while others are uttered with a vehemence and shrillness 

 that seem hardly possible in so small a bird. 



This is an unsuspecting and familiar bird, permitting a near approach, and 

 when whistled to will often stop and eye you with marked curiosity, and 

 even approach a little nearer, as if to obtain a better view, entirely uncon- 

 scious of any danger. This is not so, however, when they have a nest. On 

 this occasion they exhibit great uneasiness when their nest is visited, ap- 

 proaching very near to the intruder, looking down u])(in liim witli marked 

 expressions of uneasiness, and scolding all the while with great earnest- 

 ness, and w-ith a hoaree mewing that is very pecidiar. This display is 

 contmued even after the fledglings are full grown and alile to take care of . 

 themselves. 



The food of this species in early summer is almost exclusively small in- 

 sects, which it gleans w'ith great assiduity. In Eastern Massachusetts, like 

 all its kindred, it feeds eagerly upon the young larva; of the destructive 

 canker-worm, and doubtless, in the wilder portions of the country, is of con- 

 siderable service in restricting the increase of this scourge. 



The White-eyed Vireo may usually be found in wild, swampy, open 

 grounds, near the edges of woods, and where there are small thickets of 

 smilax and other briers and wild vines, in the midst of which it often builds 

 its pensile nest. These nests are rarely, if ever, more than three or four feet 

 from the ground. Two nests of this bird, one from Xeosho Falls, Kansas, 



