208 



USEFUL BIRDS. 



commonly seen there in the breeding season than in deep 

 woods. 



The nest of this bird, which is about a week in the build- 

 ing, is outwardly one of the handsomest specimens of bird 

 architecture to be found anywhere. It is diHicult to see how 



it is possible for a bird to con- 

 struct such a nest, and cover 

 it so tastefully with lichens 

 and })lantdown. Undoubtedly 

 the skillful use of caterpillars' web 

 -erves in attaching these ornamen- 

 t;d materials. 

 The bird is comparatively deliber- 

 ■t^' ' :^.>*^ 9^te in ])oth song and movement, and, 



„. though naturally shy when it was con- 



Pig. 73. — Yellow-throated '^ . 



Viieo, two-thirds natural fined to tllC Open WOods, it IiaS UOW 



become rather fearless, and may be 

 readily Avatched with a glass as it moves among the tall trees. 

 The song is a little louder than that of most Vireos, and may 

 be easily distinguished from all others. It usually consists 

 of two or three rich and virile notes, uttered interrogatively 

 or tentatively, followed immediately by a few similar tf)nes 

 uttered decisively. The ))ird appears to ask a question, and 

 then answer it. Its alarm notes are as harsh as those of an 

 Oriole, and somewhat similar in quality. 



This Vireo should be most carefully protected and encour- 

 aged to breed about the houses of man, for it feeds u})on pests 

 of the household, forest, and orchard. Common house flies 

 and mosquitoes are eaten. In the orchard it attacks the 

 apple i)lant lice, the hairy tent, gipsy, and tussock cater- 

 l)illars, as well as moths of many species. It is quite de- 

 structive to the larv?e of butterflies also, while weevils and 

 other beetles, grasshoppers, and leaf ho})pers are eaten to a 

 less extent. This species eats a few unimportant wild ber- 

 ries, such as the fruit of the red cedar; but so far as I have 

 observed it is not so fond of fruit as the Red-eyed Vireo, 

 and its only possible harmful habits seem to be the occa- 

 sional destruction of a bee, a syrphus fly, or some hyme- 

 no})ter<)US parasite. 



