VIREOS 427 



Nest, pensile, of grasses and plant fibers, firmly and smoothly inter- 

 woven, lined with fine grasses, suspended from a forked branch 8-40 feet up. 

 Eggs, 3-4, white, with a few specks or spots of black, umber, or rufous- 

 brown, chiefly about the larger end, 76 x *55. Date, Cambridge, May 30; 

 Holland Patent, N. Y., May 27; se. Minn., May 24. 



Unlike its cousin, the Preacher, the Warbling Vireo is not gen- 

 erally distributed, but shows a decided preference for rows of shade 

 trees, particularly rows of elms. It passes the greater part of its time 

 in the upper branches, and is more often heard than seen. 



Although resembling the Red-eye in general appearance, its song 

 is so different that singing birds need never be mistaken for that species. 

 Instead of the Red-eye's broken, rambling recitative, the song of the 

 Warbling Vireo is a firm, rich, continuous warble with a singular alto 

 undertone. 



628. Laniyireo flavifroii (VieilL). YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. Ads. 

 Upperparts bright olive-green, changing to gray on the rump and upper tail- 

 coverts; greater and middle wing-coverts tipped with white, forming two 

 distinct wing-bars; outer web of tertials edged with white; eye-ring, throat 

 and breast bright yellow; belly white. L., 5'95; W., 3'05; T., 2'10; B. from 

 N., '36. 



Range. E. N. Am. Breeds in Transition and Austral zones from se. 

 Sask., s. Man., s. Ont., s. Que., and Maine s. to cen. Tex., cen. La., and cen. 

 Fla.; winters from Yucatan and s. Mex. to Colombia; casual in winter in 

 Cuba and the Bahamas. 



Washington, common S. R., Apl. 19-Sept. 29. Ossining, tolerably 

 common S. R., Apl. 30-Sept. 7. Cambridge, common S. R., May 6-Sept. 

 10. N. Ohio, common S. R., Apl. 25-Sept. 25. Glen Ellyn, not common S. R., 

 May 2-Sept. 26. SE. Minn., common S. R., Apl. 27-Sept. 15. 



Nest, pensile, of strips of bark, plant fibers, etc., interwoven, lined with 

 fine grasses and covered externally with lichens, suspended from a forked 

 branch 10-30 feet up. Eggs, 3-4, white, with a few specks or spots of black, 

 umber, or rufous-brown, chiefly about the larger ends, '80 x '60. Date, 

 New London, Conn., May 21; Cambridge, May 26; Holland Patent, N. Y., 

 May 24. 



The Yellow-throated Vireo is a dweller in tree tops, and whether 

 in woodland, orchard, or lawn, he seldom comes below the upper story 

 of his home. But even at a distance his bright yellow breast is a con- 

 spicuous mark, at once distinguishing him from other members of his 

 family. 



If the Red-eyed Vireo is a soprano, the Yellow-throat is a con- 

 tralto. He sings much the same tune, but his notes are deeper and 

 richer, while they are uttered more deliberately and with greater expres- 

 sion than those of his somewhat too voluble cousin. "See me; I'm 

 here; where are you?" he calls, and at intervals repeats his question 

 in varying forms. Sometimes he astonishes us by an intricate liquid 

 trill which suggests the wonderful song of the Ruby Kinglet, but which 

 unfortunately is sometimes marred by the scolding notes that precede 

 or follow it. 



629. Lanivireo solitarius solitarius (Wils.). BLUE-HEADED VIREO. 

 Ads. Top and sides of the head bluish gray; eye-ring and lores white; back 

 olive-green; greater and middle wing-coverts tipped with white, forming 



