320 BULLETIN 19 7, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



are exceedingly restless birds and a pair will not remain long in one tree. 

 Quickly searching it over, they will leave it, almost invariably taking a long 

 flight before selecting another feeding ground. 



This extreme shyness and restlessness described by Mr. Maynard, 

 as observed in the Bahamas, does not seem to be characteristic of the 

 species elsewhere. Dr. Alexander Wetmore (191C) thus refers to the 

 species in Puerto Rico: "Slow and leisurely in habit, they work 

 through the leaves and twigs, sometimes singing for several minutes 

 from one perch and exhibiting no fear." They are said to allow a 

 close approach while incubating, as mentioned by Mr. Baynard above. 

 Dr. Chapman (1892) says of the bird in Cuba : "It is a very tame and 

 unsuspecting bird, and resembles our Red-eyed Vireo both in song 

 and habits. The song, however, is more emphatic and hesitating than 

 that of V. [ireol oUvaceusy 



Voice. — Opinions seem to differ, also, on the song of the black- 

 whiskered vireo. Dr. Wetmore (1916) says that the song of the 

 Puerto Rican bird "is a series of couplets, closely resembling that of 

 the red-eyed species, and they have the usual scolding note of the 

 vireos." And Dr. G. M. Allen (1905) says of the Bahaman bird: 

 "The song is somewhat similar to that of the Red-eyed Vireo, but less 

 varied, almost a monotone, delivered in a quiet apathetic way from 

 some hidden perch." 



How different is the following account given by Mr. Maynard 

 (1896) for the bird he heard at Nassau ! 



The song of the Black-whiskered Vireo is loud and clear, noticeable in this 

 character among all other of the smaller species of Bahaman Birds. "Whip Tom 

 Kelly," is the nearest rendering of the lay that I can give, with an occasional 

 fourth syllable added, sounding like "phue." These notes are repeated quite 

 rapidly, with a decided accent on the "kelly." The fourth syllable when given is 

 rather less energetically rendered, being a little plaintive. But the whole song is 

 uttered with such carelessness, not only as to intonation, but also in detail, that 

 it is seldom that the rendering which I have given can be distinctly heard. 

 Either the syllables are run together, as is often the case, or the first one or two 

 are given so low, or omitted altogether, that it is not uncommon to hear the bird 

 uttering the "kelly" only, at rather wide intervals in a preoccupied and careless 

 tone as if too busy about other matters to stop and sing. When heard in the 

 distance on a still morning the notes remind one of the far away song of the 

 Whippoorwill. When heard close at hand the song somewhat recalls the lay of 

 some of the Orioles and the resemblance is partly carried out by the movements 

 of the bird, but unlike the Orioles these Vireos never sing as they fly. Although 

 they sing all day long, unlike the Thick-billed Vireo, they do not begin until sun- 

 rise and end at sunset. 



It is interesting to note, in Cassin's (1854) account of this species, 

 that the whip-tom-heUy note is so characteristic of the bird in Jamaica 

 that it has become a popular name for this vireo. And he quotes 

 Gosse's rendering of its strongly accented notes as ^'■Sweet-John! — 

 John-to-whit! — Sweet-John-to-iohH! — John-t'-whit! — Sweet-John- 



