386 ^OUTIl AMKRICAN* BIRDS. 



Ill tlie wiiitur iiinnths this species retires to the more southern Spates, and 

 to ^.Kxieo and (entnil uiid Snutli America, thou^'h Sumiehi-.ist does nut give 

 it as «»t'iurrinL,' in the department of \'eia Cruz. Nuttall t'ound it in Soutli 

 rarolina in tiio middle of January, and Wilson met with them in full song in 

 ( loorgia in Fehruary. The fact that it was seven weeks after this before they 

 made their appearance in reiinsylvania is given by that writer as evidence 

 of tlie gradual progression made by this species in its movements nortliward, 

 regulated by the development of the season. Audubon, however, states the 

 first of March as about the time of its first appearance in Louisiana, lie 

 also mentions that this species is a constant resident in the Floridas dur- 

 ing winter, and also in the lower portions of Alabama and Georgia. A 

 large number also pass farther south, as is shown by the abundance of the 

 arrivals in early spring on the coast of Texas. Mr. Audubon states also 

 that Townsend met with them on the ('oluinl)ia IJiver, and that he himself 

 found them along the coast in Elaine, Xova Scotia, and Labrador. This, 

 however, I am inclined to consider a misstatement, as they have not since 

 been detected either west of Dakota or north of the 42d parallel. 



This Vireo is one of the most conspicuous singers of thii^ family. Its 

 songs are more earnest and louder than those of any of our Eastern species, 

 and exhibit the greatest variations, beginning in the earlier jxirt of the sea- 

 son with a simple low whistle, but changing in May into a very quaint and 

 peculiar succession of irregular notes. Some of these are very softly and 

 sweetly whistled, while others are uttered with a vehemence and shrillness 

 that seem hartlly jutssible in so small a bird. 



This is an un^us])ecting and familiar bird, permitting a near approach, and 

 when whistled to will often stop and eye you with marked curiosity, and 

 even api)roach a little nearer, as if to obtain a better view, entirely uncon- 

 scious of any danger. This is not s«i, however, when they have a nest. On 

 this occasion they exhibit great uneasiness when their nest is visited, ap- 

 proaching very near to the intruder, looking down upon him with marked 

 expressions of uneasiness, and scolding all the while with great earnest- 

 ness, and with a hoarse mewing that is very peculiar. This disjday is 

 continued even after the fledglings are full grown and able to take care of 

 themselves. 



The food of this s])ecies in early summer is almost exclusively small in- 

 sects, which it gleans with great assiduity. In Eastern Massachusetts, like 

 all its kindred, it feeds eagerly upon the young larvae of the destructive 

 canker-worm, and doubtless, in the wilder j)ortions of the country, is of con- 

 siderable service in restricting the increase of this scourixe. 



The White-eyed Vireo may usually be found in wild, sw%ampy, open 

 grounds, near the edges of woods, and where there are small thickets of 

 smilax and other briers and wild vines, in the midst of which it often builds 

 its pensile nest. These nests are rarely, if ever, more than three or four feet 

 from the ground. Two nests of this l)ird, one from Xeosho Falls, Kan., s. 



