Vireo, Red-Eyed. "The Preacher" 



does almost always, although evidence of rebellion is not 

 wanting. 



ABBOTT. Birds About Us. 27 



His style of preaching is not declamation. Though 

 constantly talking, he takes the part of a deliberative 

 orator, who explains his subject in a few words and then 

 makes a pause for his hearers to reflect upon it. We 

 might suppose him to be repeating moderately, with a 

 pause after each sentence, "You see it, you know it, 

 do you hear me? do you believe it?" All these strains 

 are delivered with a rising inflection at the close, and 

 with a pause, as if waiting for an answer. 



FLAGG. A Year With the Birds. 25 



His song is a monotonous but cheerful monologue made 

 up of short broken sentences, in triplets, given as he hunts 

 over the branches for food. " Where's a worm? Where's 

 a caterpillar? Where's a worm?" he queries as he goes, 

 answering his own question very comfortably to himself. 

 There is nothing ecstatic about his song. It seems merely 

 the accompaniment of his occupation. He sings as a 

 contented man whistles at his work. 



FLORENCE A. MERRIAM. Birds of Village and Field. 1 



Rain or shine, before noon or after, in the deep forest 

 or in the village grove, when it is too hot for the thrushes 

 or too cold and windy for the warblers, it is never out 

 of tune or place for this little minstrel to indulge his cheer- 

 ful strain. 



BURROUGHS. Wake Robin. 6 



162 



