VIREOS 425 



chiefly at the larger end, with reddish brown, '78 x "55. Date, British 

 Honduras, Apl. 23 (Thayer Coll.). 



This is a not uncommon summer resident in southern Florida, 

 arriving from its winter home in Central America early in May. Its 

 song resembles that of the Red-eyed Vireo, but is somewhat more hesi- 

 tating and emphatic. 



624. Vireosylva olivacea (Linn.}. RED-EYED VIREO. Ads. Crown 

 slaty gray, bordered on either side by blackish; a conspicuous white line over 

 the eye; rest of the upperparts, wings, and tail light olive-green; no wing- 

 bars; underparts pure white. Iris red in ad., brown in im. L., 6*23; W., 3'20; 

 T., 2-20; B. from N., '40. 



Remarks. The well-defined slaty gray cap, bordered by narrow black 

 lines, are the best distinguishing marks of this species. 



Range. N. and S. Am. Breeds in Canadian, Transition, and Austral 

 zones from cen. B. C., s. Mackenzie, s. Keewatin, n. Ont., Anticosti Is., and 

 Cape Breton Is. s. to se. Wash., s. 

 Mont., e. Wyo., e. Colo., w. Tex., n. 

 Coahuila, and cen. Fla.; winters in 

 S. A. 



Washington, very common S. R., 

 Apl. 21-Oct. 17. Ossining, common S 

 R., Apl. 29-Oct. 19. Cambridge, 

 abundant S. R., May 10-Sept. 10. N. 

 Ohio, abundant S. R., Apl. 27-Oct. 1. 

 Glen Ellyn, common S. R., May 5- 

 Oct. 5. SE. Minn., common S. R., 

 May 5-Sept. 15. 



Nest, pensile, of strips of bark, bits FlQ 112 Red . eyed V ireo. 



of dead wood, paper, and plant-down, (Natural size.) 



firmly and smoothly interwoven, lined 



with finer strips of bark and vine tendrils, suspended from a forked branch, 

 5-40 feet up. Eggs, 3-4, white, with a few black or umber specks or spots 

 about the larger end, *85 x '55. Date, D. C., May 26; Cambridge, May 28; 

 Mt. Carmel, Ills., May 23; se. Minn., May 29. 



This, the most common and generally distributed of our Vireos, is 

 found alike in the shade trees of our lawns, in orchards, or woodlands. 

 The conspicuous white line over the eye, with its black border, and the 

 bird's red eye, and its frequently uttered, complaining note, a nasal 

 whang, are good characters by which to distinguish it from its relatives. 



Wilson Flagg's description of the Red-eye to my mind exactly 

 reflects the character of the bird and its song: "The Preacher is more 

 generally known by his note, because he is incessant in his song, and 

 particularly vocal during the heat of our long summer days, when only 

 a few birds are singing. 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 between 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." 



1905. HEBBICK, F. H., Home-Life of Wild Birds,. 103-114. 



