Bird Families 



tree, the cupola of a house, the ridge-pole or weather-vane of a 

 barn, or a telegraph wire, from which to suddenly drop upon a 

 victim. Eyesight remarkable. Call-notes harsh and unmusical. 

 Habits solitary and wandering. The first-named species is resi- 

 dent during the colder months of the year; the latter is a summer 

 resident only north of Maryland. 



Northern Shrike. 



Loggerhead Shrike. 



Family yireonidce : VIREOS OR GREENLETS 



Small greenish-gray or olive birds, whitish or yellowish 

 underneath, their plumage resembling the foliage of the trees 

 they hunt, nest, and live among. Sexes alike. More deliberate 

 in habit than the restless, flitting warblers that are chiefly seen 

 darting about the ends of twigs. Vireos are more painstaking 

 gleaners ; they carefully explore the bark, turn their heads up- 

 ward to investigate the under side of leaves, and usually keep 

 well hidden among the foliage. Bill hooked at tip for holding 

 worms and insects. Gifted songsters, superior to the warblers. 

 This f;imily is peculiar to America. 



Red-eyed Vireo. 



Solitary Vireo. 



Warbling Vireo. 



White-eyed Vireo. 



Yellow-throated Vireo. 



Family mniotiltida; : WOOD WARBLERS 



A large group of birds, for the most part smaller than the 

 English sparrow ; all, except the ground warblers, of beautiful 

 plumage, in which yellow, olive, slate-blue, black, and white are 

 predominant colors. Females generally duller than males. Ex- 

 ceedingly active, graceful, restless feeders among the terminal 

 twigs of trees and shrubbery ; haunters of tree-tops in the woods 

 at nesting time. Abundant birds, especially during May and 

 September, when the majority are migrating to and from regions 

 north of the United States; but they are strangely unknown to all 

 but devoted bird lovers, who seek them out during these months 

 that particularly favor acquaintance. Several species are erratic in 



