INSESSOEES. 321 



sus of moderate length, as is also the tail, which is more or less 

 emarginate. We can only glance at the principal species. They 

 feed upon insects and berries. 



The YELLOW-THROATED GREENLET, V. flavifrons, (Lat. yel 

 low-front,) is of an olive green color; it winters in Texas and 

 Mexico, but in summer advances as far north as Nova Scotia. 

 This Greenlet is said to construct a pendulous nest. The length 

 is from five to six inches. 



The SOLITARY GREENLET, V. solitarius, has a bill that is very . 

 short and nearly as broad as the Fly-catcher s. The color of 

 this Greenlet is dusky olive ; the length five inches. It winters 

 in Mexico, but is seen as far north as Nova Scotia and as far 

 west as the Columbia river. 



The WHITE-EYED GREENLET, V. novoloracensis, (of New 

 York,) has a short, straight bill, abruptly curved at the tip and 

 flattened at the base. Its general color is a dark olive, with white 

 underneath ; the third quill is the longest ; the length five inches. 

 The notes of this bird are uncommonly sweet. It uses bits of 

 newspaper in making its nest, and Wilson says is, therefore, some 

 times called politician. This Greenlet is seen in New York 

 early in April, and is common ; it leaves for the South in Octo 

 ber. 



The WARBLING GREENLET, V. gilvus, (Lat. pale yellow,) is 

 of a pale green color above, but whitish beneath ; the first and 

 fifth primaries are equal ; the bill short ; the length five inches. 

 This is a musical little bird, wintering in tropical America but 

 reaching New York early in May, and advancing to 46o N. L. ; 

 it is seen westward as far as Columbia river. Its nest is pen 

 dent, containing from four to six white eggs, marked with brown 

 spots and lines. The length is five inches. 



The RED- EYED GREENLET, V. olivaceus, (from Lat. oliva, an 

 olive,) is of a light olive green above ; beneath whitish, with 

 a yellowish tinge on the sides. It has a long and strong 

 bill. This is a common species, ranging from Mexico to 55o 

 N. L. 



The LONG-BEAKED GREENLET, V. longirostris, (Lat. long- 

 beaked,) has wings not reaching to half the length of the tail ; 

 the first.quill shorter than the fourth. It is found in the Antilles ; 

 the length is five and one-half inches. 



Another genus of the Greenlets is ICTERIA, with but one spe 

 cies, the YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, /. viridis, (Lat. green,) con 

 necting the Fly-catchers with the Greenlets, and also forming the 

 passage between the Merula and the Vireo. This bird has a 

 strong and lengthened beak, curved and with small divergent 



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