372 . NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Dr. Cooper states that its nests are ju'iideiit from the forks of a branch 

 liii^h ahove th(» ground, s(»nietiines to tlie heiu;ht of a Imndred feet. 



Mr. llidi^avay, who ohserved tlie habits of this tjpecies in Utah and Ne- 

 vada, speaks uf it as tlie eharaeteristic Vireo of the West. It was found by 

 Iiini in all the fertile hx'alities, and was one of the most common birds in the 

 Mooded regions. J[e found it very genemlly distributed through the sum- 

 mer, inhabiting the copses along the streams of the mountain canons, and 

 the open groves of the ])arks, as well as the cottonwoods and willows of the 

 river vjdleys. In the fall the berries of a species of the cornel that grows 

 along the mountain streams constitute its principal food. Its notes and man- 

 ners are identical with those of the Eastern species. 



The nests of this sj)ecies are not distinguishable, except in the ntv '^rily 

 varying materials, from those of the Eastern birds. In position, size, and suape 

 they are the same. The eggs, four or five in number, are white, spotted with 

 brown and reddish-brown, and measure .78 by .58 of an inch. The spots are 

 somewhat darker than those of the V.yHvus, and the shape more of an ob- 

 long-oval, in all that 1 have seen. But this diti'ereuce may disap]^)ear in the 

 examination of a larger number. 



A nest found by Mr. Ridgwoy near Fort Churchill, Xevada, June 24, was 

 sus])ended from the extremity of a twig of a sapling of the cottonwood, 

 in a copse of the same growing in a river-bottom. It has a height of two 

 and a half inches, and a diameter of tliree. It is composed externally of 

 an elaborate interweaving of spiders'-webs, willow and cottonwood down, 

 and strong cord-like strips of fine inner bark. These are strongly bound 

 around the twigs from which the nest is suspended. It is one of the most 

 elaborately interwoven, homogeneous, and well-felted nests of this bird I 

 have ever met with. Another nest, from Parley's Park, Utah, obtained June 

 28, difl'ers in having the external portion woven almost exclusively of fine 

 strips of bleached bark, and is lined with fine wiry grasses. In each of these 

 the eggs were four in number, all oblong-oval in shape, but much more 

 ]>ointed at one end in the latter nest. 



This s])ecies was Ibund breeding in Xapa Valley, Cal, by Mr. A. J. Gray- 

 sun, and at Fort Tejon by Mr. Xautus. 



Subgenus LANIVIRXiO, BAmo. 



Char. Body stout, head broad. Bill short and stout, broad at the base, the eulmen 

 curvt-.l from the base, the eoininissure considerably arched. Bill blue-black. Feet stout. 

 Type, T' jlarifrons. For ligure, see page 379. 



Species and Varieties. 



CoMMOX Ctiaracteks. a broad stripe from bill to and aronml. but not beyond, 

 the eye. Two broad white bands across the wings. Bill plumbeous-blue, black 

 toward cuhnen. Iris brown in all species? 



