VlREONTD.?«: — THE VIREOS. 



391 



Anotlier nest from West Texas, nhtained l)y Captain Pope, is essen- 

 tially ditVeient in its «'eneral eliaracteristics. It is three inches in dianie- 

 ter, and but one inch and three quarters high. Tlie opening is circular, hut 

 only one and a hall" inches wide. IJelow the rim the cavity widens until it 

 is two and a halt' inches in diameter. The outer nest is made up of an 

 interweaving of tine strips (if l>ark and dry leaves, intermixed with and 

 tirndv l)ound around bv strong tlax-like til ires of different plants. Within, 

 it is lined with fine tlexil>le grasses and stems of plants. 



The eggs of this species are from .73 to .70 of an inch in length, and from 

 .52 to .50 in breadth. They are pure white, sparingly spotted with fine red 

 dots distributed around the larger end. 



31893 



Vireo pusillus, Coles. 



LEAST YIBEO. 



Virco pusillus, f'ouEs, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. 1866. — HAir.n, Rev. Am. R. 360. — ?:lliot, 

 Illust. RirJs N. A. I, vii. — CoorKit, Oru. C'al. I, 1870, 124. / Virco belli, Cooi'er, 

 Pr. Cal. Acad. 1861, 122 (Fort Mohave).' 



Sp. Ciiau. Somewhat similar in general appearance to Vireosylvia giha and siraiusoni, 

 but smaller. Rill very small ; tarsi len.irtliened. Winijs al)out equal to the tail, which is 

 lengthened, graduated, and with the leathers narrow and pointed. Exposed part of first 

 primar}' about halt" that of the sec- 

 ond, which is intermediate ])etween 

 seventh and eiirhth : the fourth and 

 fiflh longest. 



Above gravish-ash, with a tinge of 

 olive behind. Beneath, including the 

 inside of the wings, white, with a, 

 soiled tinge on the sides of the 

 throat and across the breast. Axil- 

 lars and flanks exhibiting a faint trace of greenish-yellow. Eyelids and a short line from 

 the nostrils to the eye whitish ; no other stripe apparent. A dusky loral spot. Primary 

 coverts edged ijidistinctly with whitish, producing an obscure band (a second on the mid- 

 dle coverts hardly appreciable). Quills and tail-feathers edged externally with pale grayish- 

 olive, the innermost secondaries with whitish. Bill dusky above, whitish beneath. Legs 

 plumbeous. Iris of two specimens marked as " light brown," of another as " rufous." 



The details of structure taken from No. '2.'5,78r>, of color from No. 23,788 : Length, of 

 23,785 <J, 4.80 when fresh, of skin, 4.25; wing, 2.25 ; tail, 2.25; bill above, .37; tarsus, 

 .73; middle toe and claw, .50 ; hind toe and claw, .42. First quill, .70 ; second, 1.40; 

 longest (lifth), 1.64. (Cape St. Lucas.) 



Hab. Cape St. Lucas; San Diego; Fort Mohave, and Arizona; Sacramento, California 

 (Ridgvvay). 



This species scarcely needs com]iarison with any other, except, perhaps, 

 V. 2)(fUcns of Middle America, which, however, besides belonging to Virco- 

 nella, and not Virco, as restricted, differs in many minor, but no less essential 

 points. The coloration of tlie two is remarkably similar, but jj«6///m5 has 



Vireo pusillus. 



