366 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



have the power to regurgitate by the bill pellets of indigestible portions of 

 their food. 



The eggs of this Vireo vary greatly in size, according to the locality ; the 

 farther south the smaller they are found. One, marked on the shell East 

 Tennessee, June 1, 1858, Alex. Gerhardt, measures .78 by .52 of an inch, 

 while one from Halifax, Nova Scotia, measures .95 by .65. The ground- 

 color of all is a clear crystal-white, and they are marked chiefly at the larger 

 end with spots and finer dots of red-brown. 



Mr. Eobert Kennicott, in his notes, speaks of -finding a nest of the Red- 

 eyed Vireo at the Cumberland House, Saskatchewan, June 28. Incubation 

 had not yet commenced. The pensile and neatly built nest was suspended 

 about four feet from the ground, upon a hazel-bush. The parent, when 

 scared from it, remained near until she was killed. 



Vireosylvia flavoviridis, Cassin. 



YELLOW-GREEN VIREO. 



Vireosylvia Jlav. Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. V, Feb. 1851, 152. — Ib. VI. pi. ii (Panama). — 

 ScLATER, P. Z. S. 1856, 298 (Cordova). — 1b. 1859, 375 (Oaxaca ; April). — Ib. Catal. 

 1861, 44, no. 264. — Sclateii & Salvin, Ibis, I, 1859, 12 (Guatemala). —Baird, Rev. 

 336. Vireo fiav. Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 332. Phyllomanes Jlav. Cab. Jour. 

 1861, 93 (Costa Rica). 



Sp. Char. (No. 3,976 ^.) Above olive-green ; the whole top of head and nape ash- 

 color, the edges of this cap and a loral line dusky, but not very decidedly so. A grayish- 

 white line from nostrils over the eye. 

 Beneath white, the sides of the neck, 

 breast, and body bright olivaceous-yel- 

 low ; the axillars and crissum rich sul- 

 phur-yellow. On the breast the yellow 

 extends almost to the median line, the 

 color of opposite sides separated by a 

 narrow interval. Quills dusky-brown ; 

 margined externally, except at ends of 

 primaries, with olive-green, internally 

 with grayish- white of a decided yellow 

 shade. Tail-feathers dark olivaceous-brown, bright olive externally, internally olivaceous- 

 yellow. Iris yellow or " red." 



Bill horn-color, paler below. Legs plumbeous. Wings long and pointed. Second and 

 third quills nearly equal ; fourth a little less ; first about intermediate between fourth and 

 fifth. Total length, 6.00 ; wing, 3.20 ; tail, 2.60. 



Hab. From northern border of Mexico to Isthmus of Panama, especially on west side. 



This species has not yet been recorded as taken within the limits of the 

 United States, but it comes so near to our southern border that it doubtless 

 sometimes crosses the line. Nothing distinctive appears to be known of its 

 habits. 



Vireo flavoviridis. 



