196 



several primaries, each of the rectrices, and, in one specimen, upon 

 the longest feather of the lower tail-coverts. Mr. George N. Law- 

 rence also states : ^ " I have noticed some peculiarities in color of the 

 wax-like appendages on the wings; in a specimen, presented by Mr. 

 Chas. Galbraitli, they are of a light pink, the plumage is as usual 

 except that tlie ends of the tail-feathers are very pale; another in Mr. 

 Bell's possession had these appendages yellow." These are the vari- 

 ations from the type. In young birds, the yellow band at the extrem- 

 ity of the tail is reduced to a mere trace. In certain stages, only the 

 distal border is yellow, the rest of the band being white. One speci- 

 men (No. 1,843, ? ad., April 2, 1879, Highland Falls, N. Y., E. A. M.) 

 has the tail very slightly bordered with red, at the extremity, beyond 

 the yellow band. 



Dimensions. — Average measurements of sixty-three specimens: 

 length, 7-19; stretch, 11-77; wing, 3-70; tail, 2-37; culmen, -41; bill 

 from nostril, -20; gape, -71; tarsus, -66; middle toe, -59; its claw, -25. 



Family, VIREONID^. 



61. Vireo olivaceus, {Linne). Red-eyed Vireo. An abundant 

 summer resident; breeds. Arrives from the South in May (18, 1873; 

 12, 1874; 20, 1875; 16, 1876; 16, 1877; 4, 1878; 10, 1879), staying until 

 October (8, 1874; 4, 1876). 



Four species of this genus pass the summer in the Highlands, and 

 breed. All of them build pendulous nests, attached by the brim to 

 the fork of a bush or tree ; but none are so abundant, or so universally 

 recognized and admired, as are the Red-eyed Vireos. Soon after their 

 arrival from the South, they commence nesting. I have noted in my 

 journal the discovery of freshly-completed nests, on May 22, 1877; 24, 

 1878: also of complete suites of eggs, taken June 2, 1876; May 29, 

 1877; 28, 1878. Their nests are very neat structures, composed of 

 various pliable materials compactly woven together, and lined inside 

 with fibres of inner bark. Pieces of paper are frequently pasted all 

 over the outer surface, making a very enduring wall. Vireos' nests 

 are favorite receptacles for the parasitical eggs of the Cowbird (Molo- 

 thrus ater). Their loud song and confiding manners make the Red- 

 eyes very agreeable inhabitimts of our groves and orchards, and serve 

 to reveal their presence to persons not initiated into the mysteries of 

 ornithological science. 



Dnnensions.— Average measurements of eighteen specimens : length, 

 6-23; stretch, 1017; wing, 3-20; tail, 2-20; culmen, -52; gape, -75; 

 tarsus, -70; middle toe, -40; its claw, -20. 



62. Vireo gilvus, (T7ei7/oO. Waubling Viueo. A summer resi- 



9 Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist., Vol. VIII, p. 285, April, 18G6. 



