BIEDS OF THE GAEDEN AND OECHAED. 



II. 



THE VIREO. 



IN the elms on Boston Common, and in all the lofty 

 trees of the suburbs, as well as in the country villages, 

 are two little birds whose songs are heard daily and 

 hourly, from the middle of May until the last of sum- 

 mer. They are usually concealed among the highest 

 branches of the trees, so that it is not easy to obtain 

 sight of them. These birds are two of our Warbling 

 Flycatchers, or Vireos ; one of which I shall designate 

 as the Brigadier, the other as the Preacher. I give below 

 the song of the Brigadier : 



Brig - a - dier, Brig - a - dier, Brigate. 



The notes of this little invisible musician are few, 

 simple, and melodious, and, being often repeated, they 

 are very generally known even to those who are un- 

 acquainted with the bird. At early dawn, at noon, and 

 at sunset its song is constantly repeated with no very 

 long intervals, resembling, though delivered with more 

 precision, the song of the Linnet or Purple Finch. In 

 my boyhood, when I had no access to a book descrip- 

 tive of our birds, and very seldom killed one for any pur- 

 pose, I had learned nearly all the songs that were heard 

 in the garden or wood, without knowing the physical 



