ogg NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



In tlie winter months tliis species retires to the more southern States, and 

 to Mexico and Central and South America, thougli Sumichrast does not give 

 it as occurring in the Department of Vera Cruz. Xuttall found it in South 

 Carolina in the middle of January, and Wilson met with them in full song in 

 Georoia in February. The fact that it was seven weeks after this before they 

 made their appearance in Pennsylvania is given by that writer as evidence 

 of the gradual progression made by this species in its movements northward, 

 regulated by the development of the season. xVudubon, however, states the 

 first of March as about the time of its first appearance in Louisiana. He 

 also mentions that this species is a constant resident in the Floridas dur- 

 ing winter, and also in the lower portions of Alabama and Georgia. A 

 large number also pass farther south, as is shown by the abundance of the 

 arrivals in early spring on the coast of Texas. ]Mr. Audubon states also 

 that Townsend met with them on the Columbia IJiver, and that he himself 

 found them along the coast in JNIaine, Nova Scotia, and Labrador. This, 

 however, I am inclined to consider a misstatement, as they have not since 

 been detected either west of Dakota or north of tlie 42d parallel. 



This Vireo is one of the most conspicuous singers of this family. Its 

 songs are more earnest and louder than those of any of our Eastern species, 

 and exhibit the greatest variations, beginning in the earlier part of the sea- 

 son with a simple low whistle, but changing in May into a very quaint and 

 peculiar succession of irregular notes. Some of these are very softly and 

 sweetly whistled, while others are uttered with a vehemence and shrillness 

 that seem hardly possible in so small a bird. 



This is an unsuspecting and familiar bird, permitting a near approach, and 

 when whistled to will often stop and eye you M'itli marked curiosity, and 

 even approach a little nearer, as if to obtain a better view, entirely uncon- 

 scious of any danger. This is not so, however, when they have a nest. On 

 this occasion thej'' exhibit great uneasiness wdien their nest is visited, ap- 

 proaching very near to the intruder, looking down upon him with marked 

 expressions of uneasiness, and scolding all the wdiile with great earnest- 

 ness, and with a hoarse mewing that is very peculiar. This display is 

 contnnied even after tlie fledglings are full grown and able to take care of 

 themselves. 



The food of this species in early summer is almost exclusively small in- 

 sects, which it gleans with great assiduity. In Eastern Massachusetts, like 

 all its kindred, it feeds eagerly upon the young larvae of the destructive 

 canker-worm, and doubtless, in the wilder portions of the country, is of con- 

 siderable service in restricting the increase of this scourge. 



The White-eyed Vireo may usually be found in wild, swampy, open 

 grounds, near the edges of woods, and where there are small thickets of 

 smilax and other briers and wild vines, in the midst of which it often builds 

 its pensile nest. These nests are rarely, if ever, more than three or four feet 

 from the ground. Two nests of this bird, one from Neosho Falls, Kansas, 



