106 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



as far north as Hudson Bay, wintering in the 

 tropics. 



Red-eyed Vireo. Much more conspicuous in 

 song than the little bird just considered is his 

 larger cousin, the Red-eyed Vireo, or Preacher 

 Bird, as he is commonly called from the peculiar 

 style of his utterance. He is an inhabitant of 

 orchard and shade trees, roadside and city 

 parks, as well as the woods, and from his leafy 

 retreat at all hours of the day, even at high 

 noon, may be heard his emphatic notes. 



This is our most common Vireo, a fearless, 

 gentle, lovable bird, usually in good temper, who 

 pursues the even tenor of his way with little 

 sign of alarm or suspicion when you invade his 

 nesting grounds. If in his vicinity, all you need 

 do is to wait patiently and he is pretty sure 

 to show himself, for he is usually on the move. 



They are plainly dressed and yet their delicate 

 shades and smooth feathers make them rather 

 handsome birds. The crown is dull gray with 

 black stripes on either side, and a distinct white 

 line over the eye. Othenvvise the upper parts 

 are light olive-green; the under parts are pure 

 white. The iris of the eye is red, an excellent 

 field mark when the bird is near. 



The song of the Preacher is easily identified 

 for its characteristic qualities. Henry Ward 

 Beecher, ascribing to the bird a devotional 

 nature, said of him, "He pauses between each 

 nK>rsel of food to give thanks to Heaven," an 

 excellent interpretation of his motive. Wilson 

 Flagg's description of his song is highly appre- 

 ciative: "His style of preaching is not declam- 



