PERCHING BIRDS 



6.^3a. Least Viheo. p'ireo belli pusillus. 



Range. — Western Mexico, Arizona and southern California. 



This Vireo is slightly smaller and grayer than the last; they are quite com- 

 rjion in southern Arizona, nesting the same as Bell's at low elevations in bushes 

 or small trees. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those of hdli. 



(i.S k Gray Vireo. Vireo vicinior. 



Range. — Southwestern United States from western Texas, southern California 

 and Nevada southward. 



This species is grayish above and grayish white below, with 

 white eye ring, lores and wing bar. They are not uncommon 

 birds in the Huachuca Mts. of southern Arizona, where they 

 nest in bushes at low elevations, making the semi-pensile struc- 

 tures of woven strips of bark and grasses, lined with fine round 

 grasses attached by the rim to a fork and sometimes stayed on 

 the side by convenient twigs. Eggs white, specked with brown. „., ,.^ 



Size .72 X .53. ^^ "'^® 



HONEY CREEPERS. Family COEREBID^ 



635. Bahama Honey Creeper Ccereba bahamensis 



Range. — Bahamas, casually to southern Florida and the Keys. 

 This peculiar curved-billed species is dark brown above, with the underparts, 

 superciliary line and spot at base of primaries, whitish; the rump and a breast 

 patch are yellow. They nest at low elevations in bushes or trees usually in 

 tangled thickets, making a large dome-shaped nest of grasses, leaves and fibres 

 and, during May or June, lay from three to five pale creamy white eggs, speckled 

 sparingly all over the surface and more abundantly at the large end with reddish 

 i)rown. Size .65 x .50. 



WARBLERS. Family MNIOTILTID.^ 



Warblers as a family may be classed as the most beautiful, interesting and 

 useful birds that we have. With few exceptions, they only return from their 

 winter tjuarters as the trees sliool forth their leaves or flowers, they feed largely 

 among the foliage upon small, and mostly injurious, insects. They are very 

 active and always flitting from branch to branch, showing their handsome 

 phunage to the best advantage. Their songs are simple but effectively delivered 

 and the nests are of a high order of architecture. 



(i.'it). Black and White \^'akijler. Mnio- 

 tilta varia. 

 Range. — North America east of the Plains, 

 breeding from the Gulf States north to the 

 Hudson Bay region; winters from our southern 

 borders to South America. 



This striped black and white 



Warbler is usually seen creeping 



about tree trunks and branches 



after the manner of a Nuthatch. 



They are very active gleaners 



and of inestimable value to man. 



They nest on the ground in 

 woods or swamps, making their nest of strips 

 of bark and grass, placed among the leaves 

 usually beside stones, stumps or fallen trees. 

 Their three to five eggs are white, finely 

 specked and wreathed with reddish brown. 

 Size .65 X. 50. Data.— Worcester, Mass., June 

 3, 1889. Nest of strips of bark on the ground 

 in an old decayed stump. 



385 



White 



Black and \Vhit« Warbler 



25 



