July 
‘* red-eye’s’’ warble is that of the solitary vireo 
—so pure and serene—the tone of a finer spirit. 
In the more open places, where a single 
shrub or tree will afford asheltered perch, or in 
a row of trees by the road-side, one is likely to 
hear the warbling vireo, which is in truth a 
warbler, and with more mellow tone than the 
‘‘red-eye’’ possesses. One eminent writer 
says that not a single other bird ‘ can rival the 
tenderness and softness of the liquid strains of 
this modest vocalist.’’ This is high praise, and 
I have not been so fortunate as to find any war- 
bling vireo that would justify the compliment. 
To my ear there is a pronounced petulance of 
tone in the ‘‘ red-eye,’’ and a touch of it in the 
warbling vireo, as if neither of them possessed 
the loveliest disposition in the world. The 
warbling vireo is noticeably smaller than the 
‘‘red-eye,’’ and of a more dull and uniform 
color. (Fearing that the foregoing language in 
regard to the ‘‘red-eye’’ depreciates it below 
my own real estimate, Iam glad to confess that 
later in the season its song sounded richer and 
less irritable. Perhaps the ear is less critical 
in the silences of August than in full-toned June ; 
or quite possibly, the ‘‘ red-eye’s’’ song sweet- 
ens with age.) 
209 
