HIRDS OP" 



sive range from north to south, and west to the middle of the 

 continent. How relatively rare it is would be unsafe to say, for 

 it is difficult to identify it without close inspection, to accom- 

 plish which might require the slaughter of Warbling Vireos 

 enough to excite the ire of the Audubon Club. 



Some time in the early part of 1S83, I took up casually the 

 Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club and read therein a 

 charming article by Wm. Brewster on the distribution of this 

 Vireo in the Eastern States. It showed the little bird to be 

 more common and more widely distributed than was first sup- 

 posed, and left on my mind the impression that it must pass 

 through Ontario. 



In May when the Vireos began to arrive I scrutinized them close- 

 ly, and the first I shot on suspicion proved to be of this species and 

 was I believe tlie first record for Ontario When seen in the woods 

 it looked rather smaller than the Warbling Vireo, was more 

 solid and compact in the plumage, and was noticeably tinged 

 underneath with yellow. From these features in its general 

 appearance I have since recognized it both in spring and fall. I 

 have also heard of its being taken at other points in Ontario, 

 but have no record of its being found breeding within the Province. 



24ti. VIREO GILVUS (ViEiLLi. (i27. 



Warbling Vireo. 



Primaries ten, t;ie exposed portion of the first of which is one-third or 

 less of the second, no obvious wing-bars, no blackish stripe along the side of 

 the crown, and no abrupt contrast between color of back and crown. Upper 

 parts greenish, with an ashy shade, rather brighter on the rump and edgings 

 of the wings and tail, anteriorly shading insensibly into ashy on the crown. 

 Ash of crown bordered imuiediately by a whitish superciliary and loral line ; 

 region immediately before and behind the eye dusky ash. Below sordid 

 white with faint yellowish (sometimes creamy or buffy) tinge, more obviously 

 •shaded along the sides with a dilution of the color of the back. Quills and 

 tail-feathers fuscous, v;ith narrow external edgings as above said, and broader 

 whitish edging of the inner webs ; the wing-coverts without obvious whitish 

 tipping. Bill dark horn color above, paler below ; feet plumbeous ; iris 

 brown. Length, 5 inches, or rather more; wing, 2.80: tail, 2.25: bill, 40: 

 tarsus, .67. 



248 



