482 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



tends to indicate the nests of this species, even when found 

 after they have been deserted. Eggs do not differ from those 

 of the other Vireos to any extent, being white with sparse spots 

 of black, umber and brown scattered about the larger ends. 



The song of the males is a continuous warble, uttered more 

 or less constantly in the evergreen woods which they prefer, 

 and is similar but yet quite different from that of the Red-eye. 

 As I have seen and heard a male singing while on a nest con- 

 taining recently hatched young, it appears evident that he is 

 inclined to take his part in family affairs. Other collectors 

 have told me that the male also frequently sang while incubat- 

 ing the eggs and that they had located nests by tracing up the 

 source of the song. The birds also utter a trilling whistle 

 and a harsh scolding cry. 



The food is insects of various sorts, beetles, spiders, flies, 

 and in general such insects as may be gleaned from the foliage 

 of the trees they frequent. I have also on several occasions 

 seen one of these birds spring into the air after passing insects 

 after the style of a Flycatcher, in fact this manner of feeding 

 would seem to be more characteristic of this species than of 

 any other Vireos with which I am acquainted. Though fre- 

 quenting the less inhabited and wilder sections of the State the 

 birds are very tame when approached by man and will submit 

 to being watched from a distance of only a few feet without 

 alarm. 



Family MNIOTILTID^E. Wood Warblers. 



Key to the species of MNIOTILTIDvE. 



A. Plumage neither streaked or spotted below, 



1. Throat, breast and belly white, whitish or pale huffy white. 

 §. Tail 7iot blotched or spotted with yellow or white. 

 ?. White spot on wing at base of primaries ; under tail coverts 

 whitish. Black-throated Blue Warbler, (female and immature). 

 ??. No white spot on wing at base of primaries. 

 a\ A buffy line through center of crown, and from bill over 

 eye, bordered by black. Worm-eating Warbler. (Hypo- 

 thetical List). 



