296 AYES: PASSEEES. XLVI. 



953. V. gilvua (Vieillot). WARBLING VIREO. Colors exactly 

 as in the preceding, but the spurious quill evident. L. 5^. W. 2f . 

 T. 2 J. E. N". A., frequent ; an exquisite songster, nesting in tall 

 trees in cities. (Lat., yellowish.) 



bb. Stout species, the bill short and stout, blue-black; a pale stripe running 

 to and around eye; two white wing bars; quills blackish, mostly 

 edged with pale; feet stout. (Lanivireo Baird.) 

 d. Primaries apparently 9, the first obsolete. 



954. V. flavifrons Vieillot. YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. Rich 

 olive green above, becoming ashy on rump ; bright yellow below ; 

 belly white ; superciliary line and orbital ring yellow. L. 5|. W. 

 3. T. 2. E. U. S., abundant, the most brightly colored species. 

 ( Lat., yellow-fronted . ) 



dd. Primaries evidently 10, the first small but distinct. 



955. V. solitarius (Wilson). BLUE-HEADED VIREO. Bright 

 olive green; crown and sides of head bluish-ash; stripe to and 

 around eye white ; a dusky line below it ; white below, washed 

 with yellow. L. 5|. W. 3. T. 2. U. S. in woodland ; a hand- 

 some species. Var. alticola Brewster, is a larger form, darker in 

 color, in the Great Smoky region and S. 



aa. Wings relatively short and rounded, not J longer than tail, first primary 

 I or more length of second ; bill stout. ( Vireo.) 



956. V. noveboracensis (Gmelin). WHITE-EYED VIREO. 



Bright olive green, white below ; sides and crissum bright yellow ; 

 pale wing bars ; stripe from bill to and around eye, yellow ; iris 

 white. L. 5. W. JJ. T. 2. E. U. S., in thickets ; a sprightly 

 bird, with a loud and varied song. (Lat., of New York.) 



957. V. belli Audubon. BELL'S VIREO. Olive green, yellow 

 below, chin and superciliary line whitish ; wing bars whitish. L. 4^. 

 W. 2|. T. 2. 111. to Dak. and W. (To J. G. Bell.) 



FAMILY CLXXIII. MNIOTILTID^E. (THE NEW WORLD 

 WARBLERS.) 



Primaries 9 ; inner secondaries not enlarged, nor the hind toe 

 long and straight, as in Alaudidce and Motacillidce. Bill usually 

 rather slender, notched or not ; the commissure not angulated at 

 base, as in Fringillidce, nor toothed in the middle, as in some Tana- 

 gridce ; the end not notched and abruptly hooked, as in Vireonidce 

 and Laniidce ; the gape not broad and reaching to the eyes, as in 

 Hirundinidce. 



The Warblers are small birds; all, except Icteria, are less 

 than 6ijf inches in length, and very many are less than 5. The 

 colors are usually brilliant and variegated, but the sexes are unlike, 

 and the variations due to age and season are great, so that the 

 identification of immature birds is often very difficult. Many of 



