266 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



throated, and in the fall is seen some seasons as late as the middle of 

 October. I have usually found this vireo in the lower branches of trees 

 or in high bushes. Sometimes this bird is shy, but usually it can be 

 approached without any trouble. I have seen these birds several times 

 in the summer months in the mountains of Blair, Centre and Elk coun- 

 ties, but never found nests. My friend, Prof. A. Kock, to whom I am 

 indebted for much valuable information concerning- our feathered fauna, 

 says it is a common breeder in Ly coming- county. Mr. T. L. Neff, Cum- 

 berland county, Prof. H. J. Koddy, Perry county, have found it breed- 

 ing, and in the mountainous regions of Lackawanna county Mr. H. W. 

 Williams has observed it as a regular summer resident. The beautiful 

 cup-shaped nest of this bird is suspended from a forked twig " in under- 

 growth or lower branches of small trees in woods." 



Food consists chiefly of insects, but in late summer, fall and winter 

 small berries are also fed upon. 



Vireo noveboracensis (GMEL.) 



White-eyed Vireo. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length 5 or a little less ; extent about 8 ; wings 2| or a little less ; tail about 2. Spu- 

 rious quill well developed, about half as long as the second, and similar to it also in 

 shape ; wings rather rounded ; a yellow stripe from base of maxilla joins yellow ring 

 around eye, in front of which is a dusky spot ; above bright olive-green ; the hind 

 neck (posterior half of head also in some specimens) ashy ; throat, upper part of 

 breast white (grayish-white in some specimens), belly white and under tail-coverts 

 white with yellow tint ; sides and axillars bright yellow ; eyes white, in young 

 brownish. 



Habitat. Eastern United States, west to the Rocky mountains, south in winter 

 to Guatemala. Resident in the Bermudas. 



The White-eyed Vireo is a common summer resident, very generally 

 distributed, in suitable localities, throughout the state, from late in 

 April until sometimes the last week in October. The other species of 

 this family inhabit chiefly woodland areas, but this curious white-eyed, 

 inquisitive, scolding, unsuspicious, shrill-voiced, and vehement songster, 

 resides in thickets and tangled undergrowth, along the edges of woods, 

 etc., usually in the vicinity of water. In different sections of Pennsyl- 

 vania where green briers and blackberry bushes abound, there you will 

 generally find the White-eye. This, like the two species last mentioned, 

 is a familiar winter resident in Florida, where I have observed them 

 feeding on palmetto berries, mulberries and different kinds of insects. 

 When in Pennsylvania the White-eye subsists mainly on an insect diet, 

 like that of his near relatives, and in the summer he feeds to some ex- 

 tent on blackberries, raspberries, etc., the juices of which often stain 

 the feathers around the bill. The swaying nest, quite large for the size 

 of its irritable owner, is hung from a forked twig in a bush or tree, and 

 is mostly about four, six or eight feet from the ground. 



