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Lady William Cecil,



cases one is quite rudimentary, or so hidden that only nine can be

counted.


All the Yireos are said to be entirely insectivorous, but I very

strongly suspect that they now and then indulge in a nice ripe berry !

They are not very shy birds, and probably would be easily tamed if

taken from the nest and given suitable food and plenty of space,

especially height, in an aviary.


The nests of the Yireos are beautifully made, and are probably

considered veritable works of art in the bird-world. They vary in

detail as to shape and material, though they all follow the same sort

of design. They are pendulous and, in nearly every case, are hung

from the farthest outside fork of a branch. They are generally

exquisitely woven of dry grass and fibre, and mosses, and sometimes

scraps of paper, wool, and hair are added, often all bound together

with caterpillar silk.


The commonest of this family is the Red-eyed Yireo or

Preacher (F. olivaceiLs). Its coat is greyish green, with a blue-

grey cap, and a black line below it, forming a very distinct eyebrow

to its bright red eye. Its feet are olive grey. It is entirely arboreal

in its habits, rarely deigning to descend to the ground.


The Cow-bird sometimes chooses this bird’s nest in which to

lay its egg.


The voice of the Red-eyed Vireo is easily distinguished, as it

is curiously declamatory, and in shady woods even at midday its

song may be heard, voluble and decided, in short musical sentences

with a pause between each, hence its appropriate name of “ Preacher.”


The Black-whiskered Vireo, or “ Whip-Tom-Kelly ” ( V.barba -

tulu.s ) is very like the Red-eyed Vireo in colour, but it has a line of

dark spots on either side of the chin, and it has rather a longer bill.

I have only seen two specimens of this Yireo, both in the Pino del

Rio district of Cuba, though they come north to Florida. Both the

birds were presumably cocks, as both were singing lustily, a sweet

little song that sounded like “ Twee-twee-tutti ” many times repeated.

When disturbed both birds (they were about half a mile apart)

seemed very anxious and fussy, as if their little mates were near

by, sitting ; unfortunately we had not time to look for the nests, as

big clouds were gathering and a heavy thunderstorm was fast coming



