2OO VIREONID^E : GREENLETS. 



WARBLING GREENLET. 



VlREO GILVUS ( V.) 



Chars. Differing from both the foregoing species of Vireo, and agree- 

 ing with each of the two last ones in possessing ten developed 

 primaries, the first one of which, though short and "spurious," is 

 one-third as long as the second. Scarcely distinguishable from 

 V. philadelphicus in color and size. A very plainly-colored bird, 

 without wing-bars, or blackish stripe along side of crown, or de- 

 cided contrast between color of back and of crown. Above, ashy- 

 greenish, brightest on rump, shading insensibly into ashy on the 

 crown, which is bordered by a whitish supraciliary line ; region 

 immediately before and behind eye dusky. Under parts dull 

 white, with a faint yellowish, sometimes a creamy or buffy tinge, 

 shaded along sides with a delicate wash of the color of the back. 

 Bill dark horn-color above, pale below ; feet plumbeous. Length^ 

 5.00 or a little more ; extent about 8.50 ; wing, 2.80 ; tail, 2.25 ; 

 bill, 0.40 ; tarsus, 0.65. 



This common summer resident of New England is 

 even more noted than the Red-eye for the persistency 

 with which it haunts the elms and other shade-trees 

 of our streets and parks, where it glides unseen among 

 the foliage, and constantly salutes us with its dreamy 

 delicious warbling. The notes are much softer, 

 smoother, and more artistically modulated than those 

 of the Red-eye, having an easy rippling movement, 

 quite unlike the jerky style in which the other Green- 

 let delivers his querulous message. It comes from 

 the South early in May, and retires about the middle 

 of September. Though generally distributed, it is per- 

 haps more numerous in southern New England, and 

 in populous localities, than in the recesses of Maine 

 woods ; and is probably nowhere so abundant as the 

 Red-eye. It usually keeps well up in the foliage of 

 the larger trees, and will scarcely be found in under- 



