VIREONID^ — THE VIREOS. 3(J7 



Vireosylvia philadelphicus, Cassin. 



PHILADELPHIA GREENLET. 



Fireosi/lvia philadelphica, Cassik, Pr. A. N. Sc. V, Feb. 1857, 153. — Is. VI, pi. i, fi<-r. 1 

 (Philadelphia). —ScLATER & Salvin, IbLs, I, 1859, 12 (Guatemala). — Baikd, Rev. 

 Am. Birds, 340. Firco 2)hiladelphicus, Baiud, Birds N. Am. 1858, 335, pi. Ixxviii, 

 fig. 3. Vireosylvia cobane.nsis, Sclatek, P. Z. S. 1860, 463 (Coban). — Ib. Ann. 

 Mag. N. H. 1861, 328. 



Sp. Char. (No. 20,G43 ^J.) Above dark olive-green, tinged Avith plumbeous-ash ex- 

 cept on the rump ; top of head and nape purer plnmbeous-ash, not edged with dusky, the 

 line of demarcation indistinct. Beneath light 

 sulphur-yellow, paler and almost white on chin 

 and middle of abdomen ; sides more olivaceous. 

 A whitish stripe from bill over eye, as also a 



patch beneath it and the eyelids. A dusky _ 



loral and post-ocular spot. Quills and rectrices ' *' ' ' ^^ -136.1 



brown, edged externally with olive, internally 

 with whitish ; the larger coverts with paler 

 outer edges. Bill blackish, paler plumbeous ^' J'^"^''^^'p'"'='^^- 



below. Legs plumbeous. Spurious outer or first quill (seen in gilva) wanting; the outer 

 about equal to fifth; third longest; second and fourth not much shorter. Total length, 

 4.80 ; wing, 2.65 ; tail, 2.25. 



Hab. Eastern North America to Hudson's Bay and Maine, south (in winter) to Costa 

 Rica and Guatemala. Yeragua (Salvin). Not recorded from Mexico or West Indies. 



Specimens vary somewhat in purity of tints, and especially in intensity 

 of yellow of under parts, which color is deeper in autumnal skins. 



Specimens from Costa Rica and Guatemala, being merely winter visitors 

 to that region, are quite identical with North American examples. 



Habits. This but little known species was first described by Mr. Cassin, 

 in 1851, from a specimen shot by him in some woods near Philadelphia nine 

 years previously, which was then unique, and remained so for some time after. 

 This fact, and its resemblance to K (jilva, led to the inq^ression that it might 

 be only a variety of that species. Since the publication of the description 

 other specimens have been procured from different localities, — Moose Fac- 

 tory, Maine, Ohio, Wisconsin, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. But little is as yet 

 known in regard to its habits or its distribution. It is quite abiuidant in the 

 spring in Southern Wisconsin, where it appears only as a migrant passing 

 north, none remaining to breed. As it makes its appearance late in j\Iay, and 

 usually passes rapidly on, it seems natural to infer that it cannot be far from 

 its breeding-place at the period of its appearance. The specimen obtained 

 by Mr. Cassin was shot in September, on its southward journey. It was in 

 the upper brandies of a high tree, capturing insects ; and his attention was 

 drawn to it by its slow and deliberate movements. 



Mr. Thure Xumlien, of Dane County, W^is., informs me that he has been 

 familiar with this Vireo since 18-49, and lias collected it every year since 



