WESTERN BIRDS Viroo 



hung about ten feet from the ground on a small twig 

 of a live oak tree which grew beside a running stream. 

 It was a tiny cup made of fine fibers and decorated with 

 white sage blooms, and bits of paper napkins, evidently 

 the remains of some campers' lunch-box. It seems to 

 be the habit of this family to decorate the outside of the 

 nest, which gives it a rough, patched appearance. The 

 inside is beautifully made with fine fibers. 



This nest was right beside the footpath, where many 

 people daily passed without observing it. In fact, the 

 four noisy nestlings it contained first attracted my atten- 

 tion to it. They were fully feathered and replicas of 

 their parents, being the daintiest olive-colored midgets 

 imaginable. The old birds did not mind my presence, 

 save when I gave too close a scrutiny to the young and 

 then they were more dignified than many species at so 

 trying a time. 



On the Pacific Coast, extending from Oregon north- 

 ward is found the Anthony's Vireo (V. h. obscurus), a 

 subspecies which differs from Hutton's chiefly in having 

 darker plumage. It is sometimes called Dusky Vireo. 



In southern Arizona to western Texas, south, another 

 subspecies, which is paler, is known as Stephen's Vireo. 



GENUS VIREO : LEAST VIREO. 



Least Vireo : Vireo belli pusillus. 

 FAMILY— VIREOS. 



This little Vireo ranges from central California, south- 

 western Nevada, and western Texas south to northern 

 Lower California. It is common in California in the 

 willows along the streams, seeming to prefer these 

 thickets to the higher altitudes of the mountains. 



The upper parts are gray, faintly tinged with olive 

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