388 XORTII AMERICAN -fURDS. 



riuler parts palo <)livar('oiis-yelli>wisli ; purest beliiiid, liirlitcst on the throat and abdo- 

 men : tlu' breast more oHvaceous, the sidrs still di'eper olive-j,'reeii, the breast soiled with a 

 sliiiht hiiHy tin^'e. Axillars and crissutn yellowish ; the inside of wiiii^^s whitish. Loral 

 reunion and a narrow space around eye <hill-yell<»wi>h, in taint coiitnust to the olive ot" head, 

 liill liorn-eolor al)«)ve. jtaler l»<'l«)W ; legs dusky. 



Total length, 4.70; wing, 2.40; tail, 2.0"); dillerenee between tenth and longest qnills, 

 .43 : exposed jmrtion ot" lirst primary. .72, ot" second. 1..V2, of longest, lointh, and fifth 

 (nieasureil from exposed base of lirst primary). l.UO; length of bill from forehead, .4.>, from 

 nostril, .2!>, along gape, .(JO; tarsus, .72; middle toe and claw, .50, claw alone, .IG; hiud 

 toe and claw, .4.'), claw aU)ne, .22. 



IIab. Califoinia and Western Mexico, to Uaxaca ; La Parada (ScL.j ; Orizaba (alpine 

 region, resident, SiMieiiii.). 



The tleserijHion just oiveii is based iijuni the tyi)e speciinen, ])robably in 

 winter i)luinage. Springs sj)ec'iniens ('o nut vary materially except in greater 

 purity of white e(Jg;ing;s of the feathers. Two Mexican specimens are rather 

 lari'er, the win«4 measurini' li.r)(^ the tail 2.'Ml Xo other dilferences are 

 ai)preciable. In general the first i)rimarv is about half the second, sometimes 

 rather less. 



This species is readily distinizuished from other Vireos, excepting V. 

 moihsfKs, which it greatly resen les in the small bill, form, coloration, and 

 size ; nor indeed is it easy to separate them. In modest us, however, the 

 first quill is usually more than half the second, not less; the wing shorter, 

 and less pointed ; the tail longer. The u})j)er parts are more uniform, not 

 much brighter towards runtp. 



Habits. This species is one of comparatively recent origin, and of its his- 

 tory but little is as yet known. It was first described by Cassin, in ISol, from 

 a specimen obtained in Monterey, Cal. It has been found in various parts 

 of California, in the valley of the (iila, and in the northern and eastern j)or- 

 tions of Mexico. Mr. Sumichrast gives it as a resident of the alpine region 

 of the Department of Vera Cruz. 



Dr. Cooper has oliserved tliis l>ird near San Diego, late in February, where 

 he at first mistook it for the Kubv-crowned Wren, a bird that winters there 

 in al)undance, and which he states resembles this species closely in appear- 

 ance and habits. Two of them came to within a few feet of where he sat, 

 scolding in a harsh tone. He reco«j:nized then their lamer size and different 

 plumage, as well as their remarkably large eyes, and a peculiar slowness and 

 deliberation in their movements as they searched the foliage for insects. 



Dr. Coo}>er has since found them wintering plentifully up to latitude 38°. 

 Having observed but few of them in the Coast Eange, in May, he thinks that 

 most of them go farther north in summer. At San Diego, however, he sliot 

 a female, on the Uth of March, containing an iif:f<;r nearly ready to be laid. 

 He had not been able to find the nest, which is presumed to be built in the 

 dense shade of the evergreen oaks (Qxarus ofjrifolia). Tlieir song is said to 

 consist of a few short and (piaint notes. Among the memoranda of Mr. 

 Xantus, made at Fort Tejon, I find the following : (Xo. 1,827.) Xest and 



