266 



ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



Lower fig., Oedar-bird. 

 Upper fig., Bed-eyed Vireo. 



branch, generally of a tree in the orchard ; sometimes in a 

 cedar or other tree in a pasture or wood. It is con- 

 structed of stalks of weeds, long fine roots, grass, grape- 

 vine bark, and leaves : it is 

 deeply hollowed, and lined with 

 fine roots, horsehairs, and fine 

 grass. One specimen in my col- 

 lection is partly composed of 

 strips of twine and thread, 

 which are woven together in a 

 very neat and compact man- 

 ner, and interlaced with nu- 

 merous fine roots and weeds. 

 The eggs are usually four or 

 five in number: they are laid 

 about the twentieth of June, 

 and a second litter often in Au- 

 gust. They are of a light-bluish 

 or clay-white color, with a slight purple tint, and are marked, 

 more or less thickly, with distinct spots of black, and more 

 obscure spots of purplish-brown : the appearance of these 

 latter spots is as if they were " beneath the surface of 

 the shell." Dimensions of five eggs collected in New 

 Hampshire: .86 by .64 inch, .86 by .63 inch, .86 by .60 

 inch, .80 by .62 inch, .80 by .60 inch. A great number of 

 specimens from different localities do not exhibit any great 

 variations from these measurements. 



There is a great deal of ill feeling manifested towards 

 this well-known bird by the farmers, on account of its occa- 

 sionally helping itself to a few cherries or other small fruits. 

 Its valuable services in the orchard and nursery seem to be 

 overlooked, and its life is often forfeited for this little weak- 

 ness. But if the farmer will observe it in its insect-destroy- 

 ing labors, watch it as it devours caterpillar after caterpillar, 

 or draws from its lurking-place the larva of some injurious 

 insect, he will come to the conclusion, as many have already 



