VIREONID.E — THE VIREOS. 387 



the other from Lynn, ]\Iass., may be taken as characteristic of the species. 

 They are ahnost exactly hemispherical in shape, their height and diameter 

 being the same, — three inches. They were suspended from low bushes, 

 hanging from the extreme ends of the twigs, among which the nests were 

 fastened by fine impacted masses of wood-mosses, which are very nicely and 

 elaborately interwoven with the lower portions of the outer covering of the 

 nest. The latter is composed of a singular medley of various materials, 

 among which may be noticed broken fragments of dry leaves, bits of de- 

 cayed wood and bark, coarse blades of grass, various vegetable fibres, lichens, 

 fragments of insects, mosses, straws, stems, etc. These are all wrapped round 

 and firmly bound together with strong hempen fibres of vegetables. Within 

 this outer envelope is an inner nest, made of the finer stems of grasses 

 and dry needles of the white pine, firmly interwoven. For the size of the 

 birdj these nests are proportionally larger and deeper than any others of the 

 common kinds. The cavity is two or two and a half inches deep. 



The eggs are usually five in number. One from Georgia measures .77 by 

 .00 of an inch, and is of an oblong-oval shape ; another, from Massachusetts, 

 is much more broadly ovate, measuring .80 by .62. Their greatest breadth 

 is .65 of an inch, and their length .80. They have a clear crystal-white 

 ground, spotted about the larger end with fine dark-purple and reddish-brown 

 dots. 



This species is one of the most common foster-parents of the Cowbird, 

 the eggs of which are always tenderly cared for, and the offspring nurtured 

 by them, always to the destruction of their own nestlings. 



Vireo huttoni, Cassix. 



HTJTTON'S VIREO. 



Virco huttoni, Cassin, Pr. A. X. Sc. Phila. 1851, 150 (Monterey, Cal.). — Ib. 1852, pi. i, 

 fig. 1. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 339, pi. Ixxviii, fig. 2; Rev. 357. — Sclater, 

 P. Z. S. 1858, 302 (Oaxaca) ; 1862, 19 (La Parada). — Ib. Catal. 1861, 358, no. 256. 

 — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 121. 



Sp.Char. (No. 3,725.) First quill rather less than half second, which about equals the 

 tenth ; third a little longer than seventh ; fourth and fifth nearly equal, and longest. Tail 

 slightly rounded, shorter than wings. Bill very 

 small. 



Above olive-green ; brightest behind, especial- 

 ly on rump and edging of tail, duller and more 

 ashy towards and on top and sides of head 

 and neck. Wings with two bands on coverts, 

 and outer edges of innermost secondaries rather 



broadly olivaceous-white ; other quills edged ex- y^ h tt 



ternally with olive-green, paler towards outer 



primary ; internally with whitish. Lateral tail-feather edged externally with yellowish- 

 white. Feathers of rump with much concealed yellowish-gray. 



