YELL(J\V-TIIROATED VIREO. 



555 



generally iiung from a foik of one of the outermost branches, high in air. The Warblinw 



Vireo descends from its airy perch during early morning to feed upon insects which occur 



on apple, pear and other fruit trees. I was once watching 



one thus engaged, admiring the careless ease with which 



it uttered its continuous song, without pausing a moment 



in its search for insects, when, having come within three 



(U- four yards of my head, it discovered me. It suddenly 



ceased singing, looked at me a moment, opened its beak in 



threatening manner, gave a series of querulous notes, 



Fig. 74. Head of Adult War- then, after examining me a moment, as if satisfied that it 

 bling Vireo in Spring. i i • i- • i i. i i • 1,1,^, 



^ ^ ° had mtnnidated me, and convniced that after such a 



display of valor I would not venture to do it any harm, 



flew a few yards and again began its song. 



The Warbling Vireos deposit their eggs the first week in June, and the younc are 



seen following their parents in July. All depart for the south by the middle of 



Sej^tember. 



VIREO FLAVIFRONS. 

 Yellow-throated Vireo. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cii. Size, large. Form, robust Spurious quill, apparently absent. Color. Adult. Above, 

 yellowish green, becoming ashy on the rump. Wings, brown, with the secondaries edged and tipped and the 



primaries tipped with white. There are also two white bars across 

 wing. Tail, brown, edged with white. Superciliary line and anterior 

 half of body, below, bright sulphur yellow. Posterior half of body, 

 beneath, including under wing and tail coverts, white, tinged with 

 greenish on sides and flanks. Iris, brown. Bill, brown ; bluish at 

 base of lower mandible. Feet, bluish. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



This large, robust Vireo may be at ouce distinguisheil by the 



prominent j-ellow anterior half of the body. Occurs in summer in 



eastern United States north of the Carolinas, and adjacent British 

 provinces. Winters south of our limits. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Length, 5.50 to 0.00 ; stretch, 9..50 to 10.00 ; wing, 3.10 to 3.2o: 

 tail, 1.05 to 2.10 ; bill, .45 to .50; tarsus, .50 to .55. 



Fig. 75. Head of Adult Yellow 

 throated Vireo, in Spring. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in trees, composed of strips of bark, grass, and pine leaves, covered with lichens. Eggs, 

 three or four in number, oval in form, boldly marked with purplish brown spots, that show lighter edges. 

 Dimensions, .60 by .88 to .65 by .95. 



HABITS. 



Tlu' Yellow-tln-oated Vireos arrive from tlie soutli about the second week in Mav. 

 Tliey scatter about the country, generally preferring the edges of woods or open wood- 



