Birds of Pennsylvania. 211 



on the sides and tail coverts willi greenish-yellow, brightest on the under wing 

 fovertsand crissum. Tail and wing feathers blackish, edged on the outside with 

 greenish-yellow, with whitish on inside. Young.— Irides plain brown or reddish- 

 brown ; ash of crown less distinct ; grayish-yellow rather than greenish above, but 

 the sides, under wing and tail coverts are quite l:)rightly colored. 



Hah.— K&stern North America, to the Rocky ISIountanis, north to the Arctic 

 regions. 



The Red-eyed Vireo is a common summer resident from late in 

 April to the last of September. In this State it is much more abund- 

 ant than any other of the Vireos. In summer the voice of this agile, 

 fluent and tireless songster is heard on almost every hand in forests 

 and groves. This bird is a most devoted foster- parent, feeding and 

 guarding the clamorous young Cowbird with the sanie care and solici- 

 tude that it bestows upon its own offspring. Indeed, sometimes it 

 seems that they are even more attentive to the noisy, red-mouthed 

 Cowbirds than they are to their own young. The Red-eyed Vireo, 

 like others of the family, subsists chiefly on insects, which he captures 

 on the wing, or secures while gleaning among the branches and leaves. 

 In the late summer and autumn months he feeds, more or less, on 

 raspberries, mulberries, pokeberries and wild grapes. His white 

 shirt-front is often soiled with the bright juices of the fruits on which 

 he feeds. 



Family MNIOTILTIDiE. Wood- Warblers. 



Note.— Over thirty species of this large family, which in the number of its species 

 and sub-species, ranks next to the Fringillichr, the largest family of Korth Ameri- 

 can birds, are found in Pennsylvania as spring and fall migrants, summer residents 

 or straggling and accidental visitors. This group, with some few exceptions, are 

 small, averaging about 5 inches in length and 8 inches in extent ; eyes are brown 

 and their legs brownish. The usually blackish and in most species, slender, straight 

 and awl-shaped bill, will aid greatly in recognizing a warbler from members of the 

 following families : Frinr/iUidai (bill conical, commissure more or less angulated); 

 Yireonidce (bill distinctly notched and hooked) ; Tanagrida' (l)ill stout, much like a 

 Sparrow's, with lobe and tooth near middle of commissure) ; Hirundinidcv {YAW short, 

 broad, flat and gape reaching to eyes) . The Black and White Warbler, Worm-eating 

 Warbler, Blue-winged Yellow Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Ovenbird, Kentucky War- 

 bler, INIaryland Yellow-throat, Yellow-breasted Chat and American Redstart, breed 

 generally throughout the State. Some other species* also breed in certain localities, 

 particularly in the mountainous and more northern parts of our Commonwealth. 

 The species of this family, which breed most commonly with us, lay from three to 

 five white eggs, spotted or thinly speckled usually with reddish brown, or both black 

 and brown. Some of these birds nest on the ground, others in trees or bushes. Cer- 

 tain members of this family are remarkable for the melody of their song, many 

 species which migrate north, penetrating, as some do, even the Arctic solitudes to 

 rear their young, are said to possess most exquisite vocal powers. With a view of 

 giving the beginner a general idea where he will be most likely to find the numerous 

 representatives of this group, we will for the sake of brevity and convenience divide 

 the Mniotiltidic into three classes, to wit : No. I. Species that live chiefly on the 

 ground. No. II. Species which inhabit trees and bushes, frequenting mainly, when 



* See Appendix. List of Birds of Pcnnsyl vania. 



