Widmann — A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 209 



rather rare, but regular, transient visitant, especially frequent 

 in the swampy southeast and along the shores of the Missis- 

 sippi River from May 5 to 22. They seem sometimes to be 

 quite at home here and give their song freely. The return move- 

 ment in fall extends over a period of from three to four weeks, 

 from the second week of September to the first of October. 

 Earliest, September 9, 1887; latest, October 4, 1895, in Dunklin 

 Co. Mr. E. S. Woodruff's capture of a Philadelphia Vireo 

 May 9, 1907, in Shannon Co., the heart of the Ozarks, proves 

 that its transit through Missouri is not confined to the low land, 

 where it has generally been observed, but takes place, as is the 

 case with most other northern warblers, in a broad front, cov- 

 ering most, if not all, of the state. Two were taken by Mr. 

 Woodruff, May 17, and one male. May 24, 1907, at Grandin, 

 Carter Co. 



*627. Vireo gilvus (VieilL). Warbling Vireo. 



Vireosylva or Vireosylvia gilva. Muscicapa gilva. Muscicapa melodia. 



Geog. Dist. — Eastern North America, north to Nova Scotia, 

 northern Ontario, Manitoba, west to North Dakota, southeast- 

 ern Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas; breeding from 

 Florida and Texas northward and wintering south of the United 

 States, probably in Mexico. The typical species is replaced 

 westward by the lately separated subspecies, V. gilvus swainsonii 

 (Baird), which winters in Mexico. 



In Missouri a fairly common summer resident of general dis- 

 tribution. Originally inhabiting the trees along rivers and lakes, 

 it has now accommodated itself to the new conditions and likes 

 to live in orchards, gardens and parks, even in the shade trees 

 of big cities, where its song may be heard with a short pause in 

 August during its entire stay from the middle of April till Sep- 

 tember 20. It is one of the earliest species of the genus Vireo 

 to arrive in spring, the earliest being April 6, 1893, and April 8 

 1890. This is the usual time for its appearance in the southeast 

 at St. Louis the majority of records are between April 16 and 20 

 in cool springs a few days later. By the end of April the bulk is 

 present all over the state, also transients, and the species is one 

 of the most musical in the great bird concert of that lovely sea- 

 son. Fall migration takes place in September, September 15, 

 1895, being the last date at Keokuk, and September 27, 1891, 

 for St. Louis. 



