THE BIKDS OF NEW JERSEY. 259 



Family VIREONID^. 



The Yireos. 



A group of sinal], dull-colored birds resembling the wood warblers 

 in habits, and often associating with them. They are, however, more 

 deliberate in action, and in structure differ in their hooked bill, which 

 resembles that of the Shrike, though of course it is much smaller. 



The A'iroos are entirely insectivorous and worthy of careful protec- 

 tion. The nests are readily recognized, being basket-like pensile 

 structuri's swung from a forked branch. 



a. Eye ring more or less briglit yellow. 



h. Breast and throat bright yellow, abdomen white. 



Yellow-throated Vireo, p. 261 

 bh. Breast and abdomen white, flanks pale yellow. White-eyed Vireo, p. 262 

 CO. No yellow about the eye. 



b. White line from the bill to the eye and a white eye ring. 



Solitary Vireo, p. 261 

 bb. A white line from the bill over the eye and along the side of the crown, 

 c. White line bordered above with black. Red-eyed Vireo, p. 259 



cc. White line not bordered with black. 



d. Lower parts grayish-white. Warblixg Vireo, p. 2«J<) 



dd. Lower parts pale yellow. Pihladelphi.\ Vireo, p. 260 



624 Vireosylva olivacea (LinnEeus). 

 Red-eyed Vireo. 



PLATE 70. 



Adults. — Length, ,5.50-6..50. Wing. .3.25. Above, grayish olive-green : top 

 of head, mouse-gray, a white line from the bill over the eye, bordered with black 

 where it joins the crown, and a dusky streak through the eye ; under parts, 

 white. 



YotDui in first smnmer. — -Above, pale drab: below, white: wings and tail, 

 olive, as in the adult. 



Nest a pensile structure of fine pieces of bark, paper and rotten wood, and 

 almost always with pieces of thick white spider web on the outside : hung 

 from a fork at the end of a branch usually ten to twenty feet up ; eggs, three 

 to four, white, with a few brown or black spots on the larger end, .85 x ..55. 



Abundant summer resident. Arrives April 30th (May 6th), de- 

 parts ()ctober 10th. 



