362 THE CASSIN VIREO. 



scolding ntJtes, which it often delivers when searching thru the bushes, and 

 especially if it conies across a lurking cat. 



The Warbling Yireo's cradle is swung midway from the fork of some 

 nearly horizontal branch in the depths of a shady tree. In height it may 

 vary from fifteen to twenty-five feet above the ground; but I once found one 

 in a peach tree without a shadow of protection, and within reach from the 

 ground. The structure is a dainty basket of interwoven grasses, mosses, 

 flower-stems, and the like. It is not, however, so durable as that of some 

 other Vireos, since much of its thickness is due to an ornamental thatching 

 of grass, bark-strips, green iisncu moss, and cottonwood down, which dis- 

 solves before winter is over. The female is a close sitter, sticking to her 

 post even tho nearly paralyzed with fear. The male is usually in close 

 attendance, and knows no way of discouraging the inquisitive bird-man save 

 by singing with redoubled energy. He takes his turn at the eggs when his 

 wife needs a bit of an airing, and even, it is said, carries his song with him 

 to the nest. 



No. 140. 



CASSIN'S VIREO. 



A. O. U. No. 629a. Lanivireo solitarius cassinii (Xantus). 



Synonym. — W'kstern Solitary VirEo. 



Description. — Adult male: Crown and sides of head and neck deep olive- 

 gray ; a supraloral stripe and eye-ring whitish, the latter interrupted by dusky 

 of lore; remaining upperparts olive-green overcast with gray, clearing, pure olive- 

 green on rump and upper tail-coverts ; wings and tail blackish with edging of 

 light olive-green or yellowish (white on outer web of outer rectrices) ; tips of 

 middle and greater coverts yellowish olive, forming two rather conspicuous bars ; 

 underparts white tinged with bufify, changing on sides and flanks to sulphur 

 yellow or pale olive ; under tail-coverts yellowish ; bill grayish black above, paler 

 below; feet dusky, iris brown. Adult female: Like male but duller, browner 

 on head and neck, less purely white below. Immature: Head and neck more 

 nearly like back ; supraloral streak, orbital ring, and underparts washed with 

 brownish bufT. Length about 5.50 ( L^Q-/) • wing 2.84 (72.2) ; tail 2.05 (52.2) ; 

 bill .39 (10); tarsus .75 (19). 



Recognition Marks. — Warbler size; slaty gray head contrasting with oliva- 

 ceous back; whitish eye-ring distinctive; voice has more of an edge than that 

 of V. olivacea. 



Nesting. — Nest: a semi-pensile basket of woven bark-strips, grasses, and 

 vegetable fibers, variously ornamented externally with cherry petals, spider cases, 

 bits of paper, etc., lashed to bark of horizontal or descending bough of sapling 



