78 VIREO OLIVACEUS. 



Eggs, oval in form, bluish- white in color, with the larger ends covered with round spots of black; there are also 

 spots showing beneath the surface. The smaller ends are occasionally marked with black. Dimensions, from 

 90 x -65 to -80 x 60. 



HABITS. 



The singular lisping notes of the Cedar Bird may be heard during winter almost anywhere in 

 Florida north of Lake Monroe. They move in large flocks here as is their custom elsewhere, 

 but mainly frequent open places near settlements. As their food at that time consists mostly of 

 insects, they doubtless find a large supply in those localities. I do not think they breed in the 

 state but linger until May, when they go farther north. The migrating movements of this 

 species in eastern Massachusetts are quite singular. In May, when the apple trees are in bloom, 

 they appear in great numbers and subsist upon the larvte of various species of Lepidoptera, 

 which infest these trees, occasionally interlarding their repast with the petals and stamens of the 

 blossoms. About the middle of June, they build their nests, the young are out in July, and 

 later may be seen iu company with their parents chasing insects. They are especially abundant 

 at this time in the vicinity of bodies of fresh water, and will often alight upon lily-leaves and 

 other aquatic plants, in order to secure their prey ; or will take their food by plunging 

 downward from a limb which overhangs the water and hovering for a moment over the surface. 

 By the first of September, they are gone and we seldom see them again until the following 

 February, then when the cedar and savin berries are fully ripe, they appear iu immense flocks 

 and feed upon them. They will then also eat largely of the fruit of the mountain ash and 

 asparagus. By the middle of March, they once more disappear and we do not see them again 

 until the following June. These birds usually place their nests on the limbs of apple trees or 

 in their favorite cedars. The parents are very solicitous for the safety of their eggs or young, 

 and will alight quite near the intruder, continually uttering their sharp hissing notes. While 

 incubating they pay very little attention to the presence of man ; indeed I once knew a pair that 

 constructed their nest iu a small red cedar, which stood near a path along which many people 

 were constantly passing, yet the female kept her place although the heads of pedestrians came 

 within two or three feet of her ; in fact she became so accustomed to all this bustle that it was 

 only by endeavoring to take her iu the hand that she could be induced to fly. 



FAMILY XI. VIREONID^]. THE VIREOS. . 



Bill, not wide at base nor deeply cleft; but curved and notched at tip. Coracoid bones, nearly equal in length to the 

 top of the keel. Keel, moderately high, equaling in length one-half the width of sternum. 



These are birds of plain markings, being greenish above and yellow or white beneath; but, like many species 

 with inconspicuous plumage, they are fine songsters. 



GENUS I. VIREO. THE GREENLETS. 

 GEN. CH. Sternal characters as given abore. Wings, long. Tail, moderate. Sill, shorter than the head. 



VIREO OLIVACEUS. 

 Red-eyed Vireo. 



Vireo olivacevs VIEILL., Bon., Obs. Wils. ; 1826, 124. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, rather slender. Size, moderate. Sternum, not stoutly built. Tongue, thin and horny, deeply 

 cleft at the end, with the extreme tip provided with minute cilia. In young birds the tongue is not as deeply cleft, 

 and the cilia extend along the sides. 



COLOR. Adult male. Above, olivaceous-green, with the wing and tail, excepting on the outer web, which is 



