350 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



pointed out its peculiarities, claimed for it specific distinction, and 

 named it after the cit}^ near which he first observed it. For many 

 succeeding years it was again lost sight of, most likely because no one 

 was looking for it, but as the number of collectors increased and rare 

 birds were sought after, the species was again observed, and at far 

 distant points, giving it an extensive range from north to south, and 

 west to the middle of the continent. How relatively rare it is it 

 would be unsafe to say, for it is difficult to identify it without 

 close inspection, to accomplish which might require the slaughter of 

 Warbling Vireos enough to excite the ire of the Audubon Club. 



Some time in the early part of 1883, I took up casually the 

 Bulletin of the ISuttall Ornithological Club, and read therein a 

 charming article by Wm. Brewster on the distribution of this Vireo 

 in the Eastern States. It showed the little bird to be more common 

 and more widely distributed than was first supposed, and left on my 

 mind the impression that it must pass through Ontario. 



In May, when the Vireos began to ari'ive, I scrutinized them 

 closely, and the first I shot on suspicion proved to be of this species, 

 and was, I believe, the first record for Ontario. When seen in the 

 woods it looked rather smaller than the Warbling Vireo, was more 

 solid and compact in the plumage, and was noticeably tinged undei-- 

 neath with yellow. From these features in its general appearance, 

 I have since recognized it both in spring and fall. I have also heani 

 of its being taken at other points in Ontario, but have no record of 

 its having been found breeding within the Province. 



Since the above was written, it has been found by Mr. White at 

 Ottawa, by Mr. Chamberlain at Edmonton, N.B., by Mr. Boardman 

 at St. Stephens, N.B., and by Mr. Drexler at Moose Factory, H.B.T. 

 These records show that it is widely distributed, but how abundant 

 it may be, relatively, is still an uncertain point in its history. 



VIREO GILVUS (ViEiLL.) 

 258. Warbling Vireo. (627) 



Primaries, ten, the exposed portion of the first of whicli is one-third or less 

 of the second, no obvious wing bars, no blackish stripe along the side of the 

 crown, and no abrupt contrast between color of back and crown ; upper parts, 

 greenish, with an ashy shade, rather brighter on the rump and edgings of the 

 wings and tail, anteriorly shading insensibly into ashy on the crown. Ash of 

 crown bordered innnediately by a whitish superciliary and loral line ; region 

 immediately before and behind the eye, dusky ash ; below, sordid white with 

 faint yellowish (sometimes creamy or buffy) tinge, more obviously shadetl 



