110 



the following remarks. You may think it bold in me, but so far 

 as I read Wilson I am not satislied in regard to this vireo matter. 

 " Vireo ffilvus, Wilson — in every respect agreeing with Wil- 

 son's description — is common here from the 8th or 10th of May 

 till September. It consequently breeds here. It is an excellent 

 singer. I have a number of skins, and all agree in their mark- 

 ings. There is very little difference between its spring and 

 autumnal dress. It is found in openings more than in thick timber, 

 and frequently near farm-houses. Its length varies from 5J- to 



6 inches; I have one that measures full six. Vireo ? — 



that which I sent you, and which cannot be V. ffilvus if the pre- 

 ceding is — is by no means so common as the other, and I have 

 never observed it before May 15th, and only from the loth to the 

 25th of May and in September. I never heard this bird sing a 

 note. It keeps in the most secluded thickets ; I never found it 

 anywhere else. It is a smaller bird than the other. Its length 

 is from 5 to H^ inches, which is the longest I have ever found. 

 I admit that in general markings both birds are very much alike, 

 but the ffilvus is a more slender bird than the other, which appears 

 stouter. Between the spring and autumnal dress of the ffilvus, 

 as I have said, there is but little difference in the markings, but 

 the other, in autumn, is considerably tinged with yellow. Another 

 point is the difference in the relative length of the primaries, 

 which is as follows : — 



V. ffilvus. * Vireo ? 



First primary very short. First primary longer than Sth. 



Second do. longer than 6th. Second do. "> longest and of 



Third do. ~> longest and of Third do. ) the same length. 



Fourth do. j the same length. Fourth do. longer than the 1st. 



Fifth do. longer than 2d. Fifth do. shortest. 



Wing 3 inches. Wing 2^ inches. 



" This will, I think, separate them. This measurement was 

 taken from several specimens. 



" But the question may arise, is not my F. ffilvus perhaps the 

 V. Novehoracensis ? It is not ; the iris is hazel and not white, and 

 moreover, on my ffilvus there are no yellow markings, except a 

 very faint greenish-yellow on the breast. V. Novehoracensis is 



