LAND BIRDS. 575 



north to southern New Enghmd and Minnesota; south in winter from 

 Florida to Guatemala and Honduras. Breeds from Florida and the Gulf 

 States northward. 



This active and noisy Uttle bird is almost unknown in Michigan, being 

 restricted to the southernmost counties and found there so seldom as to 

 be little more than accidental. It has been frequently confused with the 

 Yellow-throated and Blue-headed Vireos, and to this fact we must attribute 

 several of the records in the older Hsts. For example, it occurs in Knee- 

 land's list of the birds of Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior (1856), and also 

 in Miles' list of 1860, and two of our correspondents in the Upper Peninsula 

 mention it as a common nesting species. Probably the bird referred to 

 in all these cases was either the Yellow-throated or the Blue-headed Vireo, 

 most likely the latter, since that has a distinct white eye-ring and might 

 naturally be mistaken for the White-eye. 



We are not aware of the existence of a Michigan specimen of this bird 

 in any collection, but it has been recorded a few times on such good authority 

 that it cannot be refused a place in the list. Jerome Trombley noted it 

 at Petersburg, IMonroe county on May 10, 11, and 12, 1885. He did not 

 find it at any other time and thinks it possible that these records all relate 

 to the same individual bird. Mr. Covert in his manuscript list of 1894-95 

 states that it was not uncommon in the neighborhood of Ann Arbor from 

 1868 to 1873, but that he obtained no specimens after 1876, and the only 

 record since that time is by Mr. N. A. Wood, who recorded it as seen at 

 Ann Arbor in May 1881. It has not been found in the neighborhood of 

 Detroit nor has Dr. Gibbs found it in Kalamazoo county. Dr. Gil;)bs, 

 however, states that D. D. Hughes, in his manuscript Ornithology of Mich- 

 igan, states that he once found a nest of this bird containing one of its 

 own eggs and three of the Cowbird's, but he gives no locahty or date. 



The White-eyed Vireo loves thickets and swampy briar patches, and 

 is seldom found in places which would be favorable for any of our other 

 species. Places suitable for the Yellow-breasted Chat would be likely 

 to harbor this species and indeed the two birds are not unfrequently found 

 within hearing of each other. 



The song is decidedly unlike that of any of the other vireos of our ac- 

 quaintance, more nearly resembling that of the Alder Flycatcher. Its 

 ordinary call-note rcscmliles the words ''chi('kt3^-beaver,'' and Ridgway 

 says that it is popularly known by this name or as the "Little Green Hang- 

 bird" in IlHnois, and he has also heard its call interpreted by boys as 

 " ginger-beer-quick." 



The nest is commonly placed in the fork of a twig in some dense thicket 

 or at the edge of a clearing, and is similar to that of the other vireos, being 

 often ornamented externally with spiders' webs, mosses and similar 

 materials. The eggs are four or five, pure white, thinly dotted with brown, 

 purpHsh or black. They average .75 by .55 inches. 



This is another of the species which was seen to feed its young on locusts 

 in Nebraska, as recorded by Prof. Aughey. Its usual food consists entirely 

 of insects, but it also eats berries and seeds sparingly. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Bill slightly hooked at tip; rictal bristles evident; spurious primary present; two white 

 wing-bars. 



Adult (sexes alike): Upper parts olive-green, brightest on forehead, rump and upper 

 tail-coverts, grayer (olive-gray) on nape and hind neck; a dusky spot on the lores, above 



