THE INVITATION. 267 



The vireos, or greenlets, are a sort of con- 

 necting link between the warblers and the 

 true fly-catchers, and partake of the charac- 

 teristics of both. 



The red-eyed vireo, whose sweet soliloquy 

 is one of the most constant and cheerful 

 sounds in our woods and groves, is perhaps 

 the most noticeable and abundant species. 

 The vireos are a little larger than the war- 

 blers, and are far less brilliant and variegat- 

 ed in color. 



There are four species found in most of 

 our woods, namely, the red-eyed vireo, the 

 white-eyed vireo, the warbling vireo, and 

 the solitary vireo, the red-eyed and war- 

 bling being most abundant, and the white- 

 eyed being the most lively and animated 

 songster. I meet the latter bird only in 

 the thick, bushy growths of low, swampy 

 localities, where, eluding the observer, it 

 pours forth its song with a sharpness and 

 a rapidity of articulation that are truly as- 

 tonishing. This strain is very marked, and 

 though inlaid with the notes of several 

 other birds, is entirely unique. The iris of 

 this bird is white, as that of the red-eyed is 

 red, though in neither case can this mark 

 be distinguished at more than two or three 



