362 TIIK CASS IN \ IRIio* 



scolding iioti-s, wliicli il often delivers when searching thru the bushes, and 

 cs|)ecially if it conies across a lurking cat. 



The W'arhling X'ireo's cradle is swung midway from the fork of sonic 

 nearly horizontal branch in the depths of a shady tree. In height it may 

 vary from fifteen to twenty-tive feet alxive the ground; but I once foinid one 

 in a peach tree without a shadow of protection, and within reach from the 

 groiuid. The structure is a dainty basket of interwoven grasses, mosses, 

 llower-stems, antl the like. It is not. however, so durable as that of some 

 other X'ireos, since much of its thickness is due to an ornamental thatching 

 of grass, bark-strips, green iisnca moss, and Cottonwood down, which dis- 

 solves before winter is over. The female is a close sitter, sticking to her 

 post even tho nearly i)aralyzed willi fear. The male is usually in close 

 attendance, and knows no way of discouraging the infjuisitivc bird-man save 

 by singing witii redoubled energy. He takes his turn at the eggs when his 

 wife needs a bit of an airing, and even, it is said, carries his song with him 

 to tlie nest. 



No. 140. 



CASSIN'S \'iRi:o. 



.\. ( ). I'. \n. 629a. Lanivireo solitarius cassinii i Xantus). 



Synonym. — Wkstkrn Soi.itakv \iKr.<i. 



Description.— ./di(// iiuilf: Crown and sides of luad and neck deep olive- 

 gray; a snpraloral stripe and eye-ring whitish, the latter interrupted by <lusky 

 of lore; remaining ii])perparts olive-green overcast with gray, clearing, ])nrc olive- 

 green on rump and upper tail-coverts; wings and tail blackish with etlging of 

 light olive-green or yellowish (white on outer wel) of oiner rectrices>; tips of 

 niid<lle anil greater coverts yellowish olive, forming two rather conspicuous bars; 

 underparts white tinged with InitTy. changing on sides and flanks to sulphur 

 yellow or |)ale olive; under tail-coverts yellowish; bill grayish black above, paler 

 below; feet dusky, iris brown. .Idiilt female: Like male but duller, browner 

 on head and neck, less purely white below. Immature: Heail and neck more 

 nearly like back ; supraloral .streak, orbital ring, and underparts washed with 

 brownish buflf. Length alKuit 3.50 (i^O-"): wing 2.S4 (72.21; tail 2.05 (52.2); 

 bill .39 ( 10) ; tarsus .75 ( 19). 



Recognition Marks. — Warbler size; slaty gray head contrasting with oliv.i- 

 ceous back: whiti-h eye-ring distinctive; voice has more of an edge than that 

 of /'. olnacea. 



Nesting. — Nest: a semi-pensile basket of woven bark-strips, grasses, and 

 vegetable libers, variously ornamented externally with cherry- petals, spider cases, 

 bits of paper, etc., lashed to bark of horizontal or descending Ijough of sapling 



