38 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS. 



the same female — as she showed so httle fear at the 

 frequent visits I made to the nest each year. It was 

 necessary to bend the tree considerably in order to see 

 into the nest. After the first summer the sitting bird 

 would seldom fly off until the tree was bent so far that 

 she was afraid of sliding off the nest. Sometimes she 

 would not then move, but would look at me out of her 

 fearless ej^es, as much as to say, " You dare not upset 

 me and spill us all out ; my house is not on exhibition 

 to-day, you will have to come another time." Of course 

 I did as I understood her to command, and left her 

 mistress of the situation. 



Although late comers in the spring, the vireos, or 

 greenlets, are great favorites of all lovers of the birds. 

 Of the five or six species found in the State only two, 

 the red eyed and warbling, are abundant in this local- 

 ity. The red eyed vireo ( Yireo olivaceous) is classed 

 among the true sjdvias or forest birds, but he is oftener 

 found near clearings, and is becoming quite a summer 

 resident in the cities, especially the sections abounding 

 in large trees. He is a persistent singer, but sings most 

 in the middle of hot days, when other birds are com- 

 paratively silent. He has a variety of songs, — or notes 

 rather, — as they are much detached, all uttered leisurely, 

 and many of them with the rising inflection, as though 

 questioning his auditory. IS'ot a great musician, yet 

 his cheerful voice ringing its many changes on the few 

 rather sharp notes makes him a cheerful companion, 

 singing and talking and feeding among the leaves of 

 the tree above one. Samuels enthusiastically writes of 



