Chapter VII 

 VIREOS 



"Upon the lofty elm-tree sprays 

 The vireo rings the changes sweet. 

 During the trivial summer days, 

 Striving to lift our thoughts above the street." 



— Thoreau. 



The Vireo family is one that will fully repay 

 in enjoyment for the time spent in making their 

 acquaintance. Because they are summer dwel- 

 lers in thick-topped elms, maples and beeches, 

 veritable bowers of green, they were called 

 Greenlets by the early writers, and the name is 

 still used for its evident aptness. There are 

 fifty varieties of Vireos in all America, the 

 majority of which are found south of the United 

 States. Fifteen varieties are known in the 

 United States, only five of which are common in 

 the East. Their food consists of insects which 

 they catch while perched, worms and grubs 

 which they glean while slowly moving about 

 among the leaves. They also search the crevices 

 of the bark for spiders, beetles and caterpillars. 

 Thus we see they are very beneficial to man, 

 since they destroy countless insects which work 

 great injury among the trees of orchard, forest 

 and lawn. 



There is a strong family resemblance among 

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