200 

 Genera Vireosylva, Lanivireo, and Vireo. Vireos. 



624. Red-eyed Vireo. PREACHER-BIRD. TEACHER. FR. LE VIREO AUX TEUX 

 ROUGES. Vireosylva olivacea. L, 6-23. Plate XXXVIII B. 



Distinctions. The Red-eyed can be distinguished from other Vireos by its superior 

 size, the lack of yellow, the grey confined to the crown, and the white eyebrow line bordered 

 with dark both above and below. The iris is red, but this can be seen only on very close 

 examination. 



Field Marks. The markings of the face of the Red-eyed makes the best field mark. 

 The white eyebrow bordered with darker colour and the lower line through the eye can 

 usually be seen as the bird peers through the leaves at the intruder. 



Nesting. Suspended from between the forks of a small branch 5 to 15 feet above the 

 ground in pensile nest or hanging-cup, woven of strips of bark, dead-wood fibres, paper, 

 plant-down, or birch bark lined with fine materials. 



Distribution. North America to near the limit of trees. 



The Red-eyed Vireo is one of the commonest frequenters of our groves 

 and woods. Its song, a leisurely repetition of slight variants of the same 

 phrase with pauses between, and continued ad libitum, can be heard in 

 the tree tops almost anywhere in Canada and has given the species the 

 name of Preacher-bird. 



626. Philadelphia Vireo. FR. LE VIREO DE PHILADELPHIE. Vireosylva phil- 

 adelphica. L, 4-75. Almost exactly similar in coloration to the Warbling Vireo (Plate 

 XXXIX A) but more generally suffused with yellow on breast, flanks, and below. 



Distinctions. The Philadelphia can always be separated from the Warbling Vireo by 

 the length of the first primary feather. In this species it is nearly as long as the second, 

 whereas in the Warbling it is reduced to a rudimentary condition and is barely three- 

 quarters of an inch in length. 



Field Marks. In life it looks like a Warbling Vireo with unusually yellow breast and 

 underparts. 



Nesting. Suspended from a branch about 8 feet from the ground in pensile nest of 

 fibres and birch bark. 



Distribution. Eastern America. More northern in breeding range than the Warbling 

 and only a migrant in most of the settled sections of Canada. 



Usually a rather rare little Vireo and too inconspicuous to be seen 

 often or recognized by the ordinary observer. 



627. Warbling Vireo. FR. LE VIREO GRIS-OLIVE. Vireosylva gttva. L, 5-80. 

 Plate XXXIX A. 



Distinctions. The even, unmarked coloration and small size will distinguish the 

 Warbling from any other Vireo except the Philadelphia. The lack of yellow overwash in 

 front and below will usually be diagnostic. The final test of the species, however, is the 

 small rudimentary condition of the first primary which is hardly three-quarters of an inch 

 long instead of one and three-quarters. 



Field Marks. The almost pure white underparts instead of the yellow suffusion of 

 the Philadelphia makes the best recognition mark from that species and the small size and 

 dull even coloration from other Vireos. 



Nesting. Suspended between the forks of a small branch 15 to 50 feet above the 

 ground in pensile nest of fine bark strips and plant fibres, smoothly and firmly interwoven 

 and lined with pine-needles and hairs. 



Distribution. As a species, occupies all temperate America; the Eastern Warbling 

 Vireo extends west to the prairie provinces. 



SUBSPECIES. The Warbling Vireo is divided into an eastern and a western sub- 

 species. The Eastern Warbling Vireo V. g. gilva, the type of the species, is the only one 

 met with in eastern Canada. 



