124 



SINGING lilllUS — OSCINES. 



Vireo pusillus, Coues. 



Vireo ]iusilliis, CouES, I'r. A. N. S. 18GG, TO. — Baikd, Rev. Amer. Birds, 360. 

 Virco Ikllii, Cooi-Eii, Pr. Cal. Acad. ISCl, \-l-2. 



Sp. Char. Similar in general appearance to V. r/ilcus, bnt smaller. Tarsi length- 

 ened ; tail graduated. Above, grayisli-asb. Beneath white, with a soiled tinge across 



the breast. Eyelids and a short line from nostril to eye whitish. Primaries edged faintly 

 with whitish. Length, 4.80; wing, 2.2.5; tail, 2.25; tarsus, 0.73. 

 Hub. Cape St. Lucas, San Diegu, and Arizona. 



This siDecies was first known from specimens collected at Cape St. Lucas 

 by Mr. Xantus. I found it rather common along the upper part of Mojave 

 riiver in June, 1861, and in the following spring, about April 20th, they 

 began to arrive at San Diego in considerable numbers. In habits, as far 

 as observed, they resemble V. (/ileus, but differ much iu soug ; those that I 



F. puslllics. 



heard singing very much like the Polioptiltx, which utter a c^uaint mixture 

 of the notes of the Nvi-ens, swallows, and vireos. Like other vireos, they 

 have more or less of an imitative power. 



At Sacramento I frequently saw and heard in the willows along the 

 river what, from its peculiar note, I felt pretty certain was this species. As 

 I wished to find its nest, I refrained from shooting specimens, but did not 

 succeed in my object. 



