366 NOTES ON THE 



that of the third; above greenish-olive, the head and hind neck 

 ashy, the back slightly tinged with the same; lores dusky, a 

 white streak from the base of the upper mandible above, and a 

 little behind the eye; beneath the eye whitish; sides of head 

 pale yellowish-brown; beneath white, tinged with very pale 

 yellow on the breast and sides; no light margins whatever on 

 the outer webs of the wings or the tail; the spurious primary 

 one-fourth the length of the second. 



Length, 5.50; wing, 3; tail, 1.80. 



Habitat, North America in general. 



VIREO FLAVIFRONS (Vieillot). (628.) 

 YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. 



Somewhat rare, the Yellow-throated Vireo is still regularly 

 a summer resident, breeding in its characteristic localities in 

 the forests of the middle and southern sections, and without 

 doubt as commonly in the northern. It arrives about May 

 10th, and builds its nest about the 20th in forks of small 

 branches some distance from the main trunk, and about twenty 

 feet from the ground. This does not differ from that of the 

 Red-eyed Vireo, being perhaps a little more artistic in its 

 external finish, and employing a little more material. Of the 

 general distribution of this species over the State I have been 

 able to learn comparatively little. Dr. Hvoslef has identified 

 him in Fillmore county; once as early as May 10th, and Mr. 

 Lewis, in Hennepin, a little later, and a few have been 

 obtained in the fall migration, early in September. 



No writer has ever given the male any flattering credit for 

 his powers of song, indeed rather the opposite, but I must be 

 permitted a different view of his vesper song at least. 



It was very near sunset, after a charming day, and I was 

 about to leave the field and return home with my basket well 

 filled with forms embracing several then new to me, when I 

 caught the notes of a new songster, and paused in the growing 

 shadows of the forest long enough to become enchanted by 

 them. Was it the evening song of some familiar species I had 

 failed to hear before, or had I been surprised by the revela- 

 tions of a new candidate for my vote of admiration? He 

 seemed entirely unconscious of my presence, indeed he was so 

 far above me that I would scarcely expect him to be otherwise, 

 and I therefore had all the opportunity I could desire to assure 

 myself that he was unquestionably the source of the melody 

 so new to me. My field glass enabled me to get an excellent 

 view of him, and after giving him every moment I dared, lest 



