336 THE MOUNTAIN. 



wholly confined to towns, and even cities." The warbling 

 vireo is certainly found on the Alleghany Mountain. 



YIREO Olivaceus, (Bon.) Red-eyed vireo, or fly-catcher. 

 This bird arrives on the mountain in April. It is a busy 

 and tireless songster, possessed of a variety of beautiful 

 notes, which have been attempted to be imitated in words 

 by a number of enthusiastic bird observers. It is a common 

 species, and has a range of towns as well as forests. It has 

 also the general habits of the vireos. He leaves with the 

 crowd of retiring songsters in October. Great admiration 

 is shown for him as a singer. Of this species Cassin re- 

 marks, " The red-eyed fly-catcher (Y. olivaceus) is the most 

 numerous, and not only is constantly to be met with in the 

 woods, but ventures confidently into the public squares or 

 parks, and the yards and gardens of the cities. In many 

 such localities in Philadelphia, several of which are in the 

 densest parts of the city, this little warbler rears its young, 

 and pipes out his sprightly song in entire security, and ap- 

 parently feeling himself as much at home as if in the re- 

 cesses of the most remote forest. The warbling fly-catcher 

 (Y. gilvus) is another pleasing singer, though, in our opin- 

 ion, but an indifferent performer compared with the pre- 

 ceding." 



THRUSHES. 



This is an interesting family, some of which are the most 

 familiar and universally admired of our birds. 



MIMUS Polyglottus, (Linn.) Mocking-bird. This bird is 

 said to inhabit the "whole continent from the State of 

 Rhode Island to equatorial regions." It is a plain bird, 

 " cinerious, beneath white, with some white on wings and 

 tail." His powers are wonderful. Although the Alleghany 

 is within the geographic range given to this bird, it has not 

 been seen there yet. 



MIMUS Rufus, (Linn.) Ferruginous Thrush. This is a 

 large thrush of a light-brown or reddish color, beneath 

 whitish, with black spots, tail feathers long. It is found 



