Vireos SONG-BIRDS. 



like an over-active housewife, who accompanies every 

 motion of her broom or flash of her needle with random 

 advice, maxims, etc., having all active gifts, but lacking the 

 grace of judicious silence. 



Though the Vireo's pensile nests are usually built upon 

 one plan, — a cup or little pocket in a branch fork, — you 

 will never find two alike. Of half a dozen collected in the 

 garden, one is of cobwebs, soft cedar bark, and white 

 worsted; one of paper, fibres, and bits of hornets' nest; 

 and a third is a perfect collection of scraps of all sorts. 



The Eed-eyed is the largest of the Vireos, and may be 

 distinguished from the Warblers, with whom you will be 

 apt to confuse them, by its heavier build and a slight 

 Shrike-like hook at the point of the upper mandible. 



Warbling Vireo: Vireo gilvus. 



Length : 5.50-6 inches. 



Male and Female : Above pale olive-green ; head and neck ash ; dusky 

 line over eye. N'o bars on loings. Below dull yellowish ; whiter 

 on throat and belly ; deeper on sides. 



Song : A liquid and expressive voice, but not so powerful as the Red- 

 eyed. "Wilson Flagg gives it these words : "Brig-a-dier — Brig- 

 a-dier — Brigate ! " The song lacks the jerky, colloquial style. 



Season : May to September and early October. 



Breeds : Through its United States range. 



Nest : Similar in construction and shape to the Red-eyed, with gener- 

 ally a free use of moss ; in trees, usually at some height from 

 the ground. 



Eggs : Slightly smaller ; otherwise not to be distinguished from the 

 last-named species. 



Bange : North America in general, from the Fur Countries to Mexico. 



The Warbling Vireo is a common summer resident, and a 

 constant and delightful songster, having much more music 

 in its voice than any other member of the family. It war- 

 hies, as its name implies, the notes rippling easily ; and an 

 air of pleasant mystery is given to the performance by the 

 shyness that keeps the singer in the leafiest tree-tops. Plain- 

 ness is the chief characteristic of the plumage of this Vireo ; 

 it has no sharply contrasting colours, no wing bars, and a 



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