122 NEW- YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE WHITE-EYED GREENLET. 



VlREO NOVEBORACENSIS. 

 PLATE XXXVI. FIG. 78. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) . 



Miucicapa noveboracensis, Gm. Green Flycatcher, Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 389. 

 M. cantalrix. Bartram, Travels, p. 290. 

 V. mnsicus. Vieillot, Ois. de l'Am. pi. 52. 

 M. cantatrix. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 166, pi. 18, fig. 6. 



M. noveboracensis. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. p. 70. Audobon, folio, pi. 63; Orn. Biog. Vol. 1, p. 328, and Vol. 

 5, pp. 431, 433. Id. Birds of Am. Vol. 4, p. 146, pi. 240 (male). Gibaud, Birds of Long 

 island, p. 158. 



Characteristics. Dark olive ; beneath white ; sides lemon-yellow : line round the eye, and 

 spot near the nostrils, yellow. Irides white. Length, 5 inches. 



Description. Bill very short, straight, flattened at the base, curved abruptly at the tip. 

 Third quill longest. Tail nearly even, slightly emarginate. 



Color. Above deep olive, with the head somewhat darker. Frontlet, lore, and line above 

 the eye yellow. Primaries umber-brown, edged with yellow: two white bands over the 

 wings. Feathers of the tail edged with yellow. Throat white ; sides of the neck ash grey ; 

 beneath soiled white ; the sides lemon-yellow : lower mandible light bluish. 



Length, 5 • - 5 • 5. Alar extent, 7 • - 7 • 3. 



The White-eyed Greenlet winters in the maritime parts of the Southern States, and also in 

 Mexico. According to Audubon, it enters Louisiana the latter end of February or beginning 

 of March. It appears in this State in the early part of April, where it is common. It ex- 

 tends its migrations along the coast to Labrador, and on the western side of the continent to 

 Columbia river. It breeds in this State, laying from 4-6 white eggs with a few dark spots 

 at the larger end. Food, insects and berries. Its notes are said to possess uncommon sweet- 

 ness. From its habit of using bits of newspapers in. the construction of its nest, Wilson says 

 that it is sometimes called the Politician ; intending thereby a sly allusion to feathering its 

 nest by the use of even the commonest materials. It leaves us in October, for its southern; 

 winter quarters. 



