THE CASSIN VIREO. 



363 



(oak, vine-maple, fir, etc.) at a height of from live to thirty feet; bulkier and 

 of looser construction than that of other \ireos ; measures 2I4 inches across 

 by 13/ inches deep inside; walls often -J^ of an inch in thickness. Eggs: 3-5, 

 usually 4, white or creamy white, sparingly marked with spots, which vary from 

 rich red brown to almost black — but unmarked specimens are of record. Av. 

 size .y^ x .53 ( 19 x 13.9). Season: May 15-June 5; one brood. 



General Range. — Pacific Coast district north to British Columbia, east to 

 Idaho (Ft. Sherman; Ft. Lapwai), breeding from Los Angeles County, Cali- 

 fornia, northward thruout its range: south in winter to western ^Mexico. 



Range in Washington. — Common summer resident on both sides of the 

 Cascades, found chiefly in timbered areas. 



Migrations. — S faring: Seattle-Tacoma, c. April 15. 



Authorities. — ? Virco solitarins, Ornithological Committee, Journ. Ac. Nat. 

 Sci. Phila., VH. 1837. 193 (Columbia River). ]'. solitarins \'ieilIot, Baird, Rep. 

 Pac. R. R. Surv., IX. pt. II 1858, p. 340, part. (T). C&S. Rh. D'. Ra. D^ Ss^. 

 T. B. E. 



Specimens.^( U. of W.) B. Prov. P". 



NOTHING so endears a bird to a human admirer as a frank ex- 

 hibition of confidence. Overtures of friendship on the bird's i)art may 

 traverse all rules uf caution and previous procedure, but henceforth there 

 is a new relation established between them, bird and man, and the man, 

 at least, is bound to live up 

 to it. At the oncoming of 

 a smart shower on Capitol 

 Hill (before the "For Sale" 

 days) the bird -man init into 

 a fir-covered nook for shel- 

 ter, and had not been there 

 two mintites before a pair of 

 Cassin Vireos entered for the 

 same reason. They were not 

 in the least disturbed by the 

 man's presence, but cheer- 

 fully accepted him as part of 

 Things as They Are. There- 

 fore, they proceeded to preen 

 their dampened feathers at 

 distances of four or five feet, 

 while the bird-man sat with bated breath and glowing eyes. The birds 

 roamed freely about the nook and once, I think, lie made a grimace 

 behind the bird-man's back ; for when they came around in front again, 

 I judged slie was saying, "Ar'n't you the wag!" while he tittered in droll 

 recollection. 



Taken in Oregon. 



Photo by Finley and Bohlman. 



C.^SSIN VIREO \r NEST. 



