448 ORXITIIOLOGY. 



as well as could be ascertained from the distant view obtained. In its 

 motionless attitude while perched, it called to mind Oreoscoptcs montanus, 

 which it closely resembled in size, general form, and dull, grayish colors; 

 but when it flew its markings were more varied, tlic trii/rjs jjrcsenting a large 

 vli'itr patch, apparentJij on tlir jTiiiicrirs. The manner of its flight was quite 

 similar to that of the Mocking-bird {Jliinits pobjfjhttus), the wings and tail 

 Ixnng widely spread; while the resemblance was still more striking from the 

 white patch on the primaries. These characteristics correspond well with 

 those of the female or young male of PlKcnopepla nitens, so that all circum- 

 stances taken into consideration render it extremely probable that this 

 species is a rare summer inhabitant of the desert portions of western Nevada, 

 a supposition strengthened by the fact that it was obtained in the southern 

 portion of the State by Mv. 15ischotT, the naturalist of Lieutenant Wheeler's 

 expedition, in 1871. 



Family YIREOXIDJ]— Greenlets. 



VlItEOSYLVIA GILYA. 

 Tt'siiljling Vjrco, or GrocwJct. 



/?. swainsoni. 



Vireo swainsoni, Baikd, B. N. Am., 1S3S, 330 (in text, sub V. gllcus). 



Vireosylvia sicainsoni, Batkd, Review Am B., 18GG, 343. 



Vireosj/lvia glim var. siraiiisoni, Baird, in Coop. B. 0;il., I, ISTO, U(}. — B. B. & 



K., Ili.st. N. Am. B., I, 1S74, 371.- Hkmshaw, 1875, I'Lll. 

 Vireo gilvus var. swaliisoni,(JoVES, Key, 1872, 121, tig. 01; Cbeel; List, 1873, No. 



125a. 

 Vlrco gilvtis. h. smiliisoni, CoUES, B. N.W., 1S74, 98. 



Few, if any, of the western birds are more extensively distributed 

 or more abundant than this Greenlet, for it abides in all fertile localities. 

 Altitude makes no difference with it, since it is equally common among the 

 willows or cotton-woods of the lowest valleys and the aspens just below 

 the timber-line — the only condition required being, seemingly, the exist- 

 ence of deciduous trees or shrubljery. The food of this bird consists in 

 summer chiefly of worms and other insects, but in the autumn it seems to 

 subsist almost exclusively (Mi the small Iduish lu-rrles of a species of cornel 

 {Cormis pnhesccns), which grows aljundantly along the mountain streams. 



