BIBDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 263 



The Red-eyed, Philadelphia and Warbling Vireos (subgenus Vireosylva Bonap.) 

 have no wing bands, but the White-eyed, Yellow-throated and Blue-headed species 

 (subgenus Lanivireo Bd. ) have two distinct wing bands formed by white tips of 

 middle and greater coverts. The feathers of upper parts are greenish-olive of differ- 

 ent shades ; the top of head in some is similar to the back, but in others the top of 

 head is more or less plumbeous. The lower parts are whitish or yellowish or both ; 

 eyes brown, except in the Red and White-eyed species, and even the young of these 

 have brownish irides. The legs and feet are generally dark lead color, and the bills 

 are similar but paler below. The sexes are alike, and the young are not very ma- 

 terially different ; size small, the white-eyed (smallest) is about 4g inches long and 

 the Red-eyed (largest) is about 6^ inches in length. The short, straight, stout and com- 

 pressed bill has a slightly curved culmen, and it is notched and rather abruptly 

 hooked at tip. Wings pointed or rounded (very slightly) and equal to or longer than 

 the even tail. Primaries 10 : the first much the smallest ; third or fourth quills longest. 

 Four toes, three in front and one behind ; claws much curved and sharp ; short basal 

 joint of middle toe wholly adherent to both outer and inner toes; tarsus rather slen- 

 der and longer than middle toe with claw. " Next after the Warblers, the Greenlets 

 are the most delightful of our forest birds, though their charms address the ear and 

 not the eye. Clad in simple tints that harmonize with the verdure, these gentle 

 songsters warble their lays unseen, while the foliage itself seems stirred to music. 

 In the quaint and curious ditty of the White-eye in the earnest, voluble strains of 

 the Red-eye in the tender secret that the Warbling Vireo confides in whispers to 

 the passing breeze he is insensible who does not hear the echo of thoughts he never 

 clothes in words." Coues. 



GENUS VIREO VIEILLOT. 

 Vireo olivaceus (LmN.). 



Red-eyed Vireo. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 40}. 



Largest of the genus. Length about 6 ; extent about 10 inches ; bill blackish 

 above, below bluish-white ; feet and legs lead color ; iris red ; back, rump, upper 

 parts of wing and tail feathers olive-green ; sides of head and neck paler ; crown 

 dark-ash, edged with a blackish line ; a well-defined whitish line from nostril over 

 the eye and back of it; a dusky stripe through the eye ; under parts white, shaded 

 on the sides and tail-coverts with greenish-yellow, brightest on the under wing- 

 coverts and crissum. Tail and wing feathers blackish, edged on the outside with 

 greenish-yellow, with whitish on inside. 



Young. Irides plain brown or reddish-brown ; ash of crown less distinct ; grayish- 

 yellow rather than greenish above, but the sides, under wing and tail-coverts are 

 quite brightly colored. 



Habitat. Eastern North America, to the Rocky mountains, north to the Arctic 

 regions. 



The Bed-eyed Yireo is a common summer resident from late in April 

 to the last of September. In this state it is much more abundant than 

 any other of the Vireos. In summer the voice of this agile, fluent and 

 tireless songster is heard on almost every hand in forests and groves. 

 This bird is a most devoted foster-parent, feeding and guarding the 

 clamorous young Cow-bird with the same care and solicitude that it be- 

 stows upon 'its own offspring. Indeed, sometimes it seems that they 

 are even more attentive to the noisy, red-mouthed Cow-birds than they 

 are to their own young. The Bed-eyed Vireo, like others of the family, 



