BIRDS OF NEW YORK 365 



of an elongated ovate shape, grayish or creamy white in ground color, 

 rather thickly and uniformly spotted with brown and lavender. They 

 average .98 by .78 inches in dimensions. In western New York I have 

 found the first sets of this species laid as early as the 1st to the 15th of 

 May and later sets are frequently found late in June or in July which 

 seem to indicate that two broods may be reared in a season. I can not 

 understand why this bird does not increase more rapidly in numbers, 

 for it is abundantly able to protect its nest and, furthermore, the nest is 

 usually very perfectly protected by the dense cover of the thorn bush in 

 which it is situated. The young, in my experience, are almost always 

 safely reared, 5 or 6 of the youngsters being frequently seen under the 

 care of the old birds in the localities which they frequent ; but in any locality 

 which I have watched as the seasons go by, there seem to be no more breed- 

 ing pairs than there were 20 years ago. It may be that the fearless dis- 

 position of this little warrior makes him an easy prey to such birds as the 

 Cooper and Sharp-shinned hawks, but they seem such hardy birds that 

 it is impossible to believe that unfavorable weather conditions can affect 

 them seriously. Fortunately, this species being smaller than the Northern 

 shrike, rarely destroys our smaller song birds, although it occasionally 

 does so and frequently kills and impales meadow mice on the thorn bushes 

 near its home; but large beetles and grasshoppers seem to be its favorite 

 food. Consequently, it can be ranked as a beneficial species. 



Family VIREONIDAE 



Vireos 



Wing of moderate length with 10 primaries, the first short or rudi- 

 mentary; tail of moderate length; bill shorter than the head, rather stout, 

 compressed, hooked and notched at the tip; nostril exposed but with an 

 overhanging scale; rictus conspicuously bristled; tarsus equal in length 

 to middle toe and claw scutellate in front, undivided on the side; middle 

 toe joined for half the first joint to the inner and to the second joint of 

 the outer; size small; plumage not conspicuously variegated, greenish on 

 the upper part and frequently yellowish on the under parts ; young without 

 spots; sexes alike; diet insectivorous, hence the species are migratory. 



