VIREONID^ — THE VIREOS. 



391 



Another nest from West Texas, obtained by Captain Pope, is essen- 

 tially different in its general characteristics. It is three inches in diame- 

 ter, and but one inch and three quarters high. The opening is circular, but 

 only one and a half inches wide. Below the rim the cavity widens until it 

 is two and a half inches in diameter. The outer nest is made up of an 

 interweaving of fine strips of bark and dry leaves, intermixed witli and 

 firmly bound around by strong flax-like fibres of different plants. Within, 

 it is lined with fine flexible grasses and stems of plants. 



The eggs of this species are from .73 to .76 of an inch in length, and from 

 .52 to .56 in breadth. They are pure wliite, sparingly spotted with fine red 

 dots distributed around the larger end. 



Vireo pusillus, Coues. 



LEAST VIREO. 



Vireo pusillus, Coues, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. 1866. — Baiud, Rev. Am. B. 360. — Elliot, 

 Illust. Birds N. A. I, vii. — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 124. ? Vireo belli, Cooper, 

 Pr. Cal. Acad. 1861, 122 (Fort Mohave). 



Sp. Char. Somewhat similar in general appearance to Vireosylvia gilva and sioainsoni, 

 but smaller. Bill very small ; tarsi lengthened. Wings about equal to the tail, which is 

 lengthened, graduated, and with the feathers narrow and j^ointed. Exposed part of first 

 primary about half that of the sec- 

 ond, which is intermediate between 

 seventh and eighth ; the fourth and 

 fifth longest. 



Above grayish-ash, with a tinge of 

 olive behind. Beneath, including the 

 inside of the wings, white, with a 

 soiled tinge on the sides of the 

 throat and across the breast. Axil- 

 lars and flanks exhibiting a faint trace of greenish-yellow 

 the nostrils to the eye whitish ; no other stripe apparent. 



Vireo pusillus. 



Eyelids and a short line from 

 A dusky loral spot. Primary 

 coverts edged indistinctly with whitish, producing an obscure band (a second on the mid- 

 dle coverts hardly appreciable). Quills and tail-feathers edged externally with pale grayish- 

 olive, the innermost secondaries with whitish. Bill dusky above, whitish beneath. Legs 

 plumbeous. Iris of two specimens marked as " light brown," of another as " rufous." 



The details of structure taken from No. 23,785, of color from No. 23,788 : Length, of 

 23,785 ^, 4.80 when fresh, of skin, 4.25; wing, 2.25; tail, 2.25; bill above, .37; tarsus, 

 .73; middle toe and claw, .50; hind toe and claw, .42. First quill, .70; second, 1.40; 

 longest (fifth), 1.64. (Cape St. Lucas.) 



Hab. Cape St. Lucas; San Diego; Fort Mohave, and Arizona; Sacramento, Cahfornia 

 (Ridgway). 



This species scarcely needs comparison with auy other, except, perhaps, 

 V. pallens of Middle America, which, however, besides belonging to Virco- 

 ncUa, and not Vireo, as restricted, differs in many minor, but no less essential 

 points. The coloration of tlie two is remarkably similar, but ;pusilhis has 



