556 SOLITARY VIREO. 



lands, from which they occasionally wander into the orchards. The song, although it 

 has a decided Vireo-like intonation, is loud and clear, excelling all others, excepting 

 possibly the Solitary Yireo. They breed in early June, generally placing the nest in an 

 oak at no great elevation from the ground. The birds watch the nest quite closely, even 

 before laying. This Vireo departs for the sovith the first week in September. 



VIREO SOLITARSUS. 

 Solitary Vireo. Blue-headed Vireo. 



Vireo solitarius, VielL.Nouv. Diet., xi.; 1817. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Ch. Form, robust. Sternum, rather strongly built. Tongue, thin, hi irny, rather acuminate; tip, 

 quite deeply cleft and provided with cilia which extend along the sides for a short distance. 



Color. Adult. Above, very dark olivaceous green, with the 

 wings and tail dark brown, edged with greenish. Wing coverts, tipped 

 with white, forming bars. The outer webs of the tertiaries, outer and 

 inner webs of outer tail feathers, and inner webs of many others, are 

 also edged with it. Top and sides of head, dark slatj'-blue. Under 

 wing coverts, axillaries, sides and flanks, yellowish-green. Line from 

 bill to eye, ring around the latter and under parts, including under tail 

 coverts, pure white. Young and nestlings, paler. The green of the back is 

 obscured with dusky, and the top of the head with greenish. The 

 white of the wings and tail is rather more extended. The under parts 

 are also washed with greenish. Sexes, similar. Irides, brown. Bill, 

 dark brown on the upper mandible, bluish on the lower. Feet, blue, in 

 all stages. Fm. 76. Head of Adult Solitary 



Vireo, in Spring. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Easily known by the conspicuous blue head and white ring around the eye. This latter character is 

 quite variable, being larger in some specimens than in others. Northern United States during the breeding 

 season ; winters in more southern sections. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of six specimens. Length, n.oo ; stretch, D.20; wing, 3.CX); tail, 2.20; bill, 

 .45; tarsus, .74. Longest specimen, 6.( )0 ; greatest extent of wings, !l. 75; longest wing, 3.30; tail, 2.40; 

 bill, .49; tarsus, .78. Shortest specimen, 5.00; smallest extent of wings, 8.35; shortest wing, 2.80; tail, 

 1.94; bill, .40; tarsus, .70. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nest. A specimen found by Mr. Brewster about ten feet from the ground in an oak was composed of 

 fibrous bark covered with that of birch ; lined with pine leaves. Dimensions: external diameter, 3 inches, 

 internal, 2 ; external depth, 2 inches, internal, 1.50. Egg.^^, from Mr. Brewster's nest, four in number, nval 

 in form, pure white in color, sparsely spotted with bhwk. Dimensions, from .78 by .55 to .80 by .57. Mr. 

 Brewster thinks the eggs of this species are apt to be rounder than those of other Vireos. 



HABITS. 



The Solitary Vireos are quite abundant in the hummocks of the more northern 

 sections of Florida, and althcmgh seldom seen in tlie pine\' woods of tliese parts, 1 never 



