BIRDS UF AMERICA 



grant Shrike that oftentimes it is not distinguish- 

 able if only its upper parts are seen, but its under 

 parts are usually either browner or with trans- 

 verse bars of pale gray or brownish-gray on the 

 chest and the sides of the breast. It breeds in 

 the Pacific coast district from southern British 

 Columbia south to northern Lower California 

 and winters south to Cape San Lucas and west- 

 ern Mexico. It destroys many injurious insects 

 and is a decidedly beneficial specie. 



The Island, or Anthony's, Shrike ( Laiiins liido- 



viciaiiHS anthonyi) is the darkest of the members 

 of thit species. In coloration it is like the Log- 

 gerhead Shrike, but the gray of the upper parts 

 is nearly slate-gray, especially on the crown, and 

 is more uniform, the shoulders almost wholly 

 gray ; the under parts are much more strongly 

 tinged with gray ; and the outer tail-feathers have 

 much less white. Its range is limited to the Santa 

 Barbara Islands and San Ciemente Island, Cali- 

 fornia, and Santa Margarita Island, Lower 

 California. 



VIREOS 



Order Passcrcs; suborder Oscines; family Vireonidcc 



IREOS are sometimes called Greenlets; the Latin word Virco means " I 

 am green." They are small, active tree-haunting birds, like the Warblers. 

 They are mainly insectivorous, though they feed also on fruits and berries. 

 As a rule they are fair songsters (they are classed with the Oscines, or song 

 birds), although some species are distinguished for the oddity rather than 

 the melody of their notes. The wing (which is typically " nine-primaried ") 

 is always longer than the tail, and the plumage is never streaked, barred, or 

 spotted, even in the young. The bill is variable as to relative size, but never 

 longer than the head (usually very much shorter, often less than half as long); 

 and is also vei^' variable as to relative length, depth, and breadth. The wing 

 is variable but always longer than the tail, which is even, slightly rounded, 

 double rounded, or notched, the feathers being rather narrow. 



The coloration of the family is decidedly variable, plain olive, whitish, bufTy or yellowish 

 hues prevailing, sometimes with bright green and yellow, rarely with blue on the head; 

 usually plain olive, olive-green, or gray above (sometimes relieved by whitish or yellowish 

 wing bars), and plain whitish or yellowish beneath. 



As far as known the nest is suspended from a forked branch, and is composed of fine 

 vegetable fibers, mosses, lichens and the like. The eggs are white, usually spotted. The 

 range of the family extends over temperate and tropical America, except the Galapagos 

 Archipelago. The family is peculiar to America, but chiefly tropical, and is represented 

 by about seventy known species, referable to eight genera. 



The feeding habits of all the Vireos are similar. Insect food is gleaned from the foliage 

 of shrubs and trees. Probably more span worms and leaf rollers are destroyed by the 

 Vireos than by any other one group of birds. However, they do not confine themselves 

 to these particular species of insects, but, if a plague of any other kind occurs within their 

 range, they will eat the invaders greedily. 



Other Names. — The Preacher; Red-eyed Greenlet; 

 Red-eye; Little Hang-nest; Preacher Bird. 

 General Description. — Lengtii. 6'/< inches. Upper 



parts, grayish-green ; under parts, white. 



RED-EYED VIREO 

 Vireosylva olivacea (Linncrus) 



A. O. U. Number 624 See Color Plate 91 



Color. — Adults: Crozi')i. plain mouse-gray, mar- 

 gined on the sides by a narrow line of black or dusky: 

 rest of upper parts, plain grayish olive-green ; over the 

 eye. a broad stripe of dull zi'hite or very pale brozimish- 



