266 DwiGHT, The PJiiladelpJiia Vireo. [^^j^ 



only ten feet from the ground in the twigs of a willow. It contained 

 four eggs on the 13th of June, which resembled the eggs of the 

 Red-eye but unfortunately were accidently destroyed. I used 

 sometimes to meet with incubating females that made very little 

 fuss, perhaps merely leaning forward from a branch near at hand, 

 the crown feathers raised in silent inquiry. But usually they gave 

 vent to their disapproval of my presence in bursts of vigorous 

 mewing notes in which the male heartily assisted. He does not, 

 however, assist in incubation, like his relation the Warbling Vireo, 

 but devotes himself to melody, and a very cheerful melody it 

 is too. 



Song. 



To my ear the song partakes of the liquid sweetness and 

 leisurely irregularity of that of the Solitary Vireo, the notes being 

 sweeter, clearer, and a trifle higher pitched than those of the Red- 

 eye. It is no easy matter to describe the song of a bird intelli- 

 gently. We do not know their language nor have we alphabetical 

 signs or musical notation, that can convey to us more than a faint 

 idea of bird music. Fortunately we have comparisons to fall back 

 upon, and as the song of the Red-eyed Vireo is well known to 

 many of us, some idea of that of the Philadelphia Vireo may be 

 gained when I say that while the former rapidly ripples out his 

 music, the latter reiterates slowly a series of double or triple 

 notes with marked pauses between. My experience has been 

 that having once heard philadelphicus you will seldom mistake it 

 for o/ivaceus, while the reverse will not hold. There is more 

 reduplication of notes in the song of the Red-eye and one might 

 say, less time for taking breath. In Mr. Brewster's account of 

 the birds, which I can corroborate in every particular, he speaks 

 of a " double-syllabled utterance " coming in irregularly with the 

 general song. I would merely emphasize the fact that it is the 

 essence of the song and enters into it at as regular intervals as 

 any of the other notes. It is a liquid note, beginning the song 

 and occupying about three fifths of a second for the two syllables 

 of which it is composed, on both of which considerable emphasis 

 is laid. There seems to be a slight trill or ripple between the 



