534 HISTORY OF THE 



world, their notes and actions are expressive of an irritable, 

 petulant temperament. In this respect they differ from many of 

 the highest order of animals, for if they are not all smiles to 

 others, they are at all times a happy family at home, the mated 

 pairs being very attentive and loving to each other, and kindly 

 rear their young. 



Their nests are deep, cup-shaped, and almost hemispherical in 

 form. They are suspended usually from grape or other wild, 

 running vines, ia a small open space, surrounded by the thick- 

 est growths they can find, and are seldom over four feet from 

 the ground. They are made of hemp-like fibers, bits of old 

 leaves, mosses and lichen from decaying stumps and trees, and 

 are lined with fine stemlets of weeds and grasses. Eggs four 

 or five, . 75x. 55; clear white, with a few scattering spots of pur- 

 ple and dark reddish brown about the larger end; in form, oval. 



Vireo belli! AUD. 



BELL'S VIREO. 

 PLATE XXXI. 



Summer resident; abundant. Arrive the last of April; be- 

 gin laying the last of May; the bulk leave early in September. 



B. 246. R. 145. C. 183. G. 69, 270. U. 633. 



HABITAT. Middle portions of the United States; from Illinois 

 and Minnesota west to the eastern base of the Rocky Mount- 

 ains; south in winter into southern Mexico; breeding from cen- 

 tral Texas (and probably farther south) northward throughout 

 its range. 



SP. CHAR. Wings dull dusky grayish, the middle and greater coverts nar- 

 rowly and not very sharply tipped with dull white. Top of head and neck dull 

 brownish gray, gradually changing to grayish olive green on back, scapulars, 

 rump and upper tail coverts; a rather indistinct loral streak, and interrupted 

 orbital ring, dull white; cheeks and ear coverts light brownish gray, fading 

 gradually into dull white or buffy white of throat; median lower parts white, 

 the breast usually faintly tinged with sulphur yellow; sides and flanks sulphur 

 yellow, tinged with olive; under tail coverts and under wing coverts clear pale 

 sulphur yellow. (Ridgway.) 



' Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 4.90 7.15 2.15 1.90 .70 .40 



Female.. 4.75 7.00 2.10 1.80 .70 .40 



