208 



USEFUL BIRDS. 



Fig. 73. — Yellow-throated 

 Vireo, two-thirds natural 

 size. 



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 anvAvhere. It is difficult to see how 



it is possible for a bird to con- 

 struct such a nest, and cover 

 it so tastefully with lichens 

 and plantdown. Undoubtedly 

 the skillful use of caterpillars' web 

 serves in attaching these ornamen- 

 tal materials. 

 The bird is comparatively deliber- 

 ate in both song and movement, and, 

 though naturally shy when it was con- 

 fined to the open woods, it has now 

 become rather fearless, and may be 

 readily watched 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 tones 

 uttered decisively. The l)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 homes of man, for it feeds upon pests 

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

 and mosquitoes are eaten. In the orchard it attacks the 

 apple plant lice, the hairv tent, gipsy, and tussock cater- 

 pillars, as well as moths of many species. It is quite de- 

 structive to the larvas of l)utterflies also, while weevils and 

 other beetles, grasshoppers, and leaf hoppers are eaten to a 

 less extent. This species eats a few unimportant Avild 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- 

 nopterous parasite. 



