368 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



that period, finding it both in the spring and fall. It appears occasionally 

 as early as the 10th of May, the time varying with the season from the lOth 

 to the 27th. In 1857, when the season was very liackward and May very 

 cold, they did not arrive until June 2. They were unusually numerous, and 

 remained only a day or two. So far as he has been able to ascertain, none 

 stop to breed. They are very quiet, have no song at the time they are pass- 

 ing, and seem only intent on collecting their food and in proceeding on their 

 way. Tliey are very tame and unsuspecting, and one can readily get to 

 within a few feet of them. In the fall they are returning south from the 7th 

 to the 19th of September. 



The nest and eiiQ;s remain to be obtained. 



Vireosylvia gilvus, Cassin. 



WARBLING GREENLET. 



Musciccqja gilva, Vieill. Ois. I, 1807, 65, pi. xxxiv. Vireo gilvus. Box. Obs. Wils. 1825, 

 no. 123. — AuD. Oni. Biog. II, pi. cxviii. — Ib. Birds Am. IV, jil. ccxli. — Baikd, 

 Birds N. Am. 1858, 335. — Samuels, Birds N. Eng. 273. Vireosylvia cjilva, Cassin, 

 Pr. A. N. Sc. 1851, 153. — Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, 298 (Cordova) ; (?) 1858, 302 

 (Oaxaca ; June) (perhaps V. swainsoni). — Baikd, l»ev. Am. B. 342. Muscicajxt mc- 

 lodia, Wils. Am. Orn. V, 1812, 85, pi. xlii, fig. 2. 



Sp. Char. (No. 1,017 9-) Above olive-green, strongly glossed with ashy; the head 

 and nape above more distinctly ashy, but without decided line of demarcation behind, and 



without dusky edge ; rump pure olive. 

 Stripe from nostrils over eye to nape, 

 eyelids, and space below eye, creamy- 

 white. A rather dusky post-ocular and 

 loral spot, the latter not extending to the 

 bill. Under parts white, with tinge of 

 greenish-yellow (occasionally of creamy 

 fulvous or buff), especially on breast ; sides 

 more olivaceous. Crissum and axillars 

 scarcely more yellowish. Quills and rec- 

 trices wood-brown, edged internally with whitish, externally with olivaceous, except per- 

 haps on longer primaries. Edge of wing white. Larger wing-coverts grayish-brown, with 

 paler edges, and no trace of olivaceous. Bill horn-color above, paler below. 



First quill very short or spurious ; second about equal to, generally rather longer than 

 sixth; third longest ; fourth, then fifth a little shorter. 



Fresh specimen : Total length, 5.33 ; expanse of wings, 8.35 ; wing from carpal joint 

 2.85. Prepared specimen : Total length, 4.80 ; wing, 2.75 ; tail, 2.25. Sexes alike. Iris 

 brown. 



Hab. Eastern North America to Fort Simpson. Cordova and Oaxaca only southern 

 localities recorded. Not West Indian. 



A very young bird has a very cottony plumage, and differs in tints, having 

 the top of the head and the nape a soft whitish isabella-color, this tingeing 

 the back ; the lower parts are wholly unsoiled wdiite ; the middle and sec- 



Vireo gth-iis 



