WHITE-EYED VIREO 233 



In spite of its bravery on its nest, it is at other times most restless, 

 shy, and retiring ; we often hear it singing in the depths of its shady 

 retreats, but it seldom shows itself or mounts to some open perch to 

 sing; and, if we try to enter its haunts to catch a glimpse of it, it 

 promptly fades away and we hear its voice from some more distant 

 point. 



Dr. Chapman (1912) remarks: "If birds are ever impertinent, I 

 believe this term might with truth be applied to that most original, 

 independent dweller in thickety undergrowths, the White-eyed Vireo. 

 Both his voice and manner say that he doesn't in the least care what 

 you think of him ; and, if attracted by his peculiar notes or actions, 

 you pause near his haunts, he jerks out an abrupt 'Who are you, eh?' 

 in a way that plainly indicates that your presence can be dispensed 

 with. If this is insufficient, he follows it by a harsh scolding, and 

 one can fancy that in his singular white eye there is an unmistakable 

 gleam of disapproval." 



This display of an irritable temperament is most pronounced when 

 its nesting haunts are invaded ; tlien it is that it shows its petulance and 

 irascibility by skipping about and scolding in a state of great excite- 

 ment. But at other times it may behave quite differently, showing 

 decided traits of curiosity and inquisitiveness, a desire shown by some 

 other birds to investigate more closely any stranger within its haunts. 

 At such times if we sit, quietly, and partially concealed in its home 

 thicket, it will approach stealthily, hopping from one low twig to 

 another and looking us over, coming silently to within a few feet of 

 us. It is an interesting bird of strongly marked characteristics. 



Voice. — Aretas A. Saunders contributes the following full account 

 of the striking song of this species: "The song of the white-eyed 

 vireo differs markedly, not only from other vireos, but from all other 

 birds. It consists of three to nine (commonly five to seven) distinct 

 notes, some short but emphatic, others longer and strongly accented, 

 some slurred or otherwise connected, and others separated from all 

 other notes by short pauses. Phonetic sounds are common in the 

 song and stand out distinctly. Songs are likely to begin and end 

 with a short emphatic note like chick or tick, but not all do this. 

 Most songs contain a loud, accented tohee, or a slurred wheeyo or wayo. 

 Examples would be: Chick! ticha wheeyo chick!; chick tick wheee 

 chiclcero chick!; chicli whdy! chick wayo! tick to! tickata ydd tick! ; 

 and there are many others. 



"Each individual has several songs and commonly sings one over 

 and over a dozen times or so and then changes to another. Tlie 

 greatest number of different songs I have recorded as definitely from 

 one individual is four, but I believe they have more variations than 

 this. The difficulty lies in positively identifying the same individual 

 from day to day. They wander about and are not always singing 



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