RED-EYED VIREO. 1 83 



shady forests or tall trees near gardens and the suburbs of 

 villages, where its loud, lively, and energetic song is often con- 

 tinued, with little intermission, for several hours at a time, as 

 it darts and pries among the thick foliage in quest of insects 

 and small caterpillars. From its first arrival until August it is 

 the most distinguished warbler of the forest, and when almost 

 all the other birds have become mute, its notes are yet heard 

 with unabated vigor. Even to the 5 th of October, still enliv- 

 ened by the feeble rays of the sun, the male faintly recalls his 

 song, and plaintively tunes a farewell to his native woods. His 

 summer notes are uttered in short, emphatical bars of 2 or 3 

 syllables, and have something in them like the simple lay of 

 the Thrush or American Robin when he first earnestly and 

 slowly commences his song. He often makes use, in fact, of 

 the same expressions ; but his tones are more monotonous as 

 well as mellow and melodious, like the rest of the Vireos. In 

 moist and dark summer weather his voice seems to be one 

 continued, untiring warble of exquisite sweetness ; and in the 

 most populous and noisy streets of Boston his shrill and tender 

 lay is commonly heard from the tall elms ; and as the bustle of 

 carts and carriages attempts to drown his voice, he elevates his 

 pipe with more vigor and earnestness, as if determined to be 

 heard in spite of every discord. The call of " Whip-Tom- 

 kelfy," attributed to this species by Sloane and even Wilson, I 

 have never heard ; and common as the species is throughout 

 the Union, the most lively or accidental fit of imagination 

 never yet in this country conceived of such an association of 

 sounds. I have already remarked, indeed, that this singular 

 call is, in fact, sometimes uttered by the Tufted Titmouse. 

 When our Vireo sings slow enough to be distinctly heard, the 

 following sweetly warbled phrases, variously transposed and 

 tuned, may often be caught by the attentive listener : Ushode 

 pewee peeai miisik ^du 'du \h(, ^tshoove ^here ^here, hear here, 

 ''King Witshard, ''p''shegru ^tshevii, 'tsheevoo Ushuvee peeait ^perdt, 

 — the whole delivered almost without any sensible interval, with 

 earnest animation, in a pathetic, tender, and pleasing strain, 

 well calculated to produce calm and thoughtful reflection in 



