

OF NEW ENGLAND. 161 



the place under the delusion that the passage-birds (or most 

 of them) had fairly gone, an immense flock of birds suddenly 

 appeared, evidently traveling from the North southward, and 

 were soon scattered over the place. Among them were many 

 Snow-birds, White- throated, Fox-colored, Tree, and Song Spar- 

 rows, Ruby-crowned ' Wrens/ Golden-crowned ' Wrens,' Nut- 

 hatches, Brown Creepers, and Chickadees. Never have I seen 

 an assemblage of birds exhibiting such a variety of species. 

 At noon most of them had disappeared." 



The White-eyed Vireos frequent lightly timbered woods, par- 

 ticularly those which are in low land and contain a second 

 growth about the taller trees, and also swamps, thickets, and 

 the " scrub." They have a habit of moving their tails, much 

 like the Shrikes. They keep nearer to the ground than our 

 other vireos, and are so shy, that, if they were silent, they 

 would rarely be seen as they busy themselves in the common 

 pursuit of their family, that of insects. 



(d). When, however, their nest is approached, they display 

 themselves, and are usually very vehement in their expressions 

 of anger (unlike their relations, particularly the Solitary Vi- 

 reos), and utter a harsh scold or chatter, and sometimes a 

 peculiar mewing, or other querulous cry. Their song is very 

 peculiar or even eccentric, and is very loud for such small birds. 

 It is full of character, energy, and vehemence, though some of 

 the lower whistles are sweet and quite different in tone. It 

 partakes of the owners' nature, much as the human voice does, 

 and indicates the almost fiery temperament of these little vi- 

 reos, which is so markedly in contrast with the cheerfulness, 

 gentleness, and calmness, of other members of their family. 

 Their music is constantly varied, and in it one may occasion- 

 ally hear the apparently mimicked notes of other birds. 



14. Laniidae. Shrikesl (See 13.) 

 I. COLLURIO 



(A) BOREALIS. (Great Northern) Shrike. "Butcher-bird" 

 (A winter-visitant to Massachusetts, but never very common.) 

 (a). 9-10 inches long. Above, light bluish-ash, very light 

 12 



