SOLITARY VlltKO. BLUK ///:.! Itl-'.n VIREO. 81 



the first of May. Although quite generally distributed in this section, they are rather local in 

 Xe\v England, being exceedingly rare in .some localities, while commonly found in others. In 

 the North as in the South these birds are found in close swampy thickets, where they may be at 

 once detected by their singular note. Mr. Philip II. Gosse, in his "Birds of Jamaica," says that 

 the song of the "Whip Tom Kelly" ( I". Ixtrlin(ula) does not in the least resemble the syllables 

 of which its name is composed ; I have thought that perhaps the originator of the name heard 

 the White-eyed Vireo, while he had the b n-!> I'nln in mind, for the song of Noveboracensis quite 

 closely resembles these words pronounced with a decided accent on the "Kelly." Besides these' 

 notes they emit a querulous one of alarm or annoyance when intruded upon. 'These birds nest 

 in Massachusetts in June, bring out their young in July, and depart south early in autumn. 



VIREO SOLITARIUS. 



Solitary Vireo. Blue-headed Vireo. 



Vireo solilarius VIEILI,., Nouv. Diet., xi ; 1817. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Si-. Cit. Form, robust. Si/.e, medium. Bill, quite short. Sternum, rather strongly built. Tongue, thin, 

 horny, rather acuminate; tip, quite deeply cleft and provided with cilia which extend along the sides for a short 

 distance. 



COLOK. Ailnlt. Above, very dark olivaceous-green, with the wings and tail dark brown edged with greenish. 

 Win;; coverts, tipped with white. forming bars. The outer webs of the tertiaries, outer and inner webs of outer tail 

 feathers and inner webs of many others are also edged with it. Top and sides of head, dark slaty-blue. Under wing 

 coverts, axillarics. sides ami 11 inks, yellowish-green. Line from bill to eye, ring around the latter and under parts, 

 including under tail coverts, pure white. 



Young and ntstliii'j*. paler. The green of the back is obscured with dusky, and the top of the head with 

 greenish. Tin; white of the wings and tail is rather more extended. The under parts are also washed with 

 greenish. Sexes, similar. Irides, brdwn. Bill, dark brown on the upper mandible, bluish on the lower. Feet, blue 

 in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Easily known by the conspicuous blue head and white ring around the eye. This latter character Is quite 

 variable, being larger in some specimens than in others. Northern United States during the breeding season; 

 winters in more southern sections. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of six specimens. Length, 5-55; stretch, 9-20; wing, 3'00; tail, 2-20; bill, -45; tarsus, 

 7t. I.onire^r specimen, 6-00; greatest extent of wings, 9-75 ; longest wing, 3-30; tail, 2-40; bill, -49; tarsus, -78. 

 Shortest specimen, 5-00; smallest extent of wings, 8-35; shortest wing, 2-80; tail, 1'94; bill, -40; tarsus, -70. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



\>-*t. A specimen found by Mr. Brewster about ten feet from the ground in an oak was composed of fibrous 

 bark covered with that of birch; lined with pine leaves. Dimensions: external diameter, 3 inches, internal, 2; 

 external depth, 2 inches, internal, 1-50. 



Eggs, from Mr. Brewster's nest, four in number, oval in form, pure white in color, sparsely spotted with black. 

 Dimensions, from -78 x- 55 to -80 x -57. Mr. Brewster thinks the eggs of this species are apt to be rounder than those 

 of other Vireos. 



HABITS. 



The solitary Vireos are quite abundant in the hummocks of the more northern sections of 

 Florida, and although seldom seen in the piny woods of these parts, I never found them elsewhere 

 in the vicinity of Miami. They usually accompany the various species of Warblers and are 

 always silent. They migrate northward quite early in spring, being the first of the family which 

 appear in Xew England, for they are often seen during the latter part of April. Here they are 

 no longer noiseless, but make the woods ring with their loud and often repeated song. These 

 birds are truly a sylvan species, seldom being found, while in the north, out of the thick groves. 



BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 11 



