FAM. VIII. VIREOS 97 



quaint and curious ditty of the -white-eye, in the earnest, vol- 

 uble strains of the red-eye, in the tender secret that the war- 

 bling vireo confides in whispers to the passing breeze — he is 

 insensible who does not hear the echo of thoughts he never 

 clothes in words." They build beautiful basket-like nests, 

 which are suspended from forked twigs, sometimes near the 

 ground and sometimes from the highest parts of forest trees. 

 The vireos are usually to be found on trees or bushes, very 

 rarely on the ground. Any of the common names given can 

 end in Greenlet as well as Vireo. 



Key to the Species 



* Rather stout species with distinct white or whitish wing bars.^ (C.) 



* Ratlier slender species witli no distinct wing bars. (A.) 



A. The first primary less than one inch long ; ^ under parts white with 

 yellowish on the sides (if there is almost no yellowish on sides, 

 look for 2. Red-eyed Vireo, as it has been found with a short first 



primary) 5. Warbling Vireo. 



A. The first primary much over one inch long. (B. ) 

 B. Under parts j'ellowish, brightest on the breast ; crown ashy, without a 

 bordering black line over the whitish eye line. 4. Philadelphia Vireo. 

 B. Under parts mainly white with almost no yellowish ; crown ashy- 

 gray margined with blackish just above the white line over the eye. 



2. Red-eyed Vireo. 



(or 1. Black-whiskered Vireo, if in Florida, and if there is a dusky 

 streak on the side of the throat.) 

 B. Sides bright olive-yellow, and the under tail coverts clear sulphur- 

 yellow (Texas) 3. Yellow-green Vireo. 



C. First primary nearly as long as the second ; breast bright yellow 



6. Yellow-throated Vireo. 



C. First primary less than one inch long.^ (D.) 

 D. Top and sides of head grayish-blue, with a distinct white line around 



the eye 7. Blue-headed Vireo. 



D. Crown olive, much like the back ; a distinct yellow line over the eye. 



9. White-eyed Vireo. 



D. Crown ashy ; a distinct white line around the eye (Western) 



10. Bell's Vireo. 



D. Crown and sides of head black (Kansas to Texas) 



8. Black-capped Vireo. 



1 

 apgar's birds. — 7 



