26 



The Avifauna. 



Mutton's Vireo in Los Angeles, Cal. 



{Vireo huttoni.) 



^T^His neat little Vireo is a common resident 

 VS' of this locality; more common perhaps in 

 the fall and winter than during the other 

 seasons. Every arroyo, canon, and plot of oak 

 woods in the immediate vicinity of Pasa- 

 dena seems to have among its inhabitants 

 a number of these birds, and at almost 

 anj- time during the day they can be found 

 among the thick branches of some tree 

 quietly and contentedly searching for 

 food. The}- live entirely on insects and 

 insect larvae, judging from the contents 

 of several stomachs examined during the 

 past year; in no case was there any trace 

 of vegetable matter in these stomachs. 



The separation of "V. huttoni" from 

 the other VMreos of this vicinity is an 

 easy matter; for of the four species found 

 here the Hutton's is the only one having 

 the under parts decidedly yellow. There 

 is no difference in the plumage between 

 the two sexes. The size is small, being 



March the more ambitious couples have laid 

 their set of eggs. During the mating season 

 two, or even three male birds follow one female 

 and court her favors until she shows her prefer- 

 ence. Some times two males become jealous of 

 each other, but a little combat among the thick 

 branches of an oak tree settles the supremacy 



NESTS OF HUnON"« VIREOS. 

 less than five inches long. A male taken on 

 March i6, 1895, shows the following measure- 

 ments: length, 4.90 in.; stretch, 7.55 in.; wing, 

 2.40 in.; tail, 2.00 in. 



Early in the spring this species begins to 

 mate, and occasionally by the latter part of 



N!«r And I GGS OF HUTTONS VIREOS. 



of one, and the defeated suitor departs 

 oseek the affections of another female. 

 Soon after mating the new couple 

 search through all the favorable local- 

 ities for a nesting site, and eventually 

 decide upon one suitable to their tastes. 

 They will often tr\- several situations 

 before settling their minds on the one 

 where they complete the nest. While 

 the nest is being cmstructed the male 

 is constantly near the female uttering 

 at intervals, a single low note. This 

 note is uttered only when the female 

 is within hearing, and after the eggs 

 have been laid, when she is on the nest. 

 N>th withstanding the abundance of 

 the birds during the breeding season, 

 very few nests are found by collectors; and he 

 who is fortunate enough to collect a nice set, 

 feels well paid for a long tramp and a diligent 

 search. Even when 3-ou find a nest it is often 

 quite another thing to collect it, especially 

 when the birds have been cautious enouyh to 



