514 APPENDIX. 



VIREO FLAVIFRONS. 

 Yellow -throated Vireo. 



Vireo Jlavifrom VIELL., Ois. Am., I; 1807, 85. 



SP. Cn. Fonn, robust. Size, large. COLOR, Adult. Above and on sides of head, yellowish-green, becoming ashy 

 posteriorly and brown on wings and tail; with feathers of latter, tertiaries, tips of wing coverts, under wing coverts and 

 posterior portion of body below, white. Anterior portions beneath, ring around eye, and line from it to bill, yellow. li-Ls 

 nnd bill, brown; feet, bluish. Young, similar, but the white markings above are more extended. 



Observations. Known by the yellow throat. Breeds from Pennsylvania, northward; winters south of our limits. 

 DIMENSIONS. Length, 5'60; stretch, 9'75; wing, 311; tail, 2'Oft; bill, '50; tarsus, -55. 



Nests and Egys. NESTS, placed in trees, composed of moss, grass, strips of bavk, etc. EGGS, four in number, oval in 

 form, creamy in color, spotted and blotched with dark reddish-brown and lilac. Dimensions from '56x - 80 to '02 x 83. 



HABITS. 



The Yellow-throated Vireos are more often found in the woods than elsewhere, but 

 during migrations, will occasionally venture into the orchards. The song is loud and clear 

 but not as prolonged as that of other Vireos, nor is it uttered as frequently. The favorite 

 nesting tree of the Yellow-throat is the oak, and the nest is not usually placed very high. 



COLLUBIO BOREALIS. 



Great Northern Shrike. 



Collurio borealii BD., Birds N. A. ; 1858, 324. 



SP. Cn. For, robust. Size, large. COLOR. Adult. Above, pale slaty-blue slightly tinged witn reddish. Stripe 

 through eye, wings and tail, black, with patch on base of primaries, tips of outer tail feathers, and under parts, white. 

 Forehead, sides of crown, scapularies, and upper tail coverts, hoary. Young. Similar, but strongly overwa-shed with red- 

 dish above and finely banded on under parts with dusky. 



Observations. Known by the white forehead. Occurs in summer from Canada, northward; wintering from Maine 

 to Pennsylvania. DIMENSIONS. Length, 9'80; stretch, 14'50; wing, 4'53; tail, 4'H5; bill, '58; tarsus, '48. 



Nests and Eggs. NESTS, placed in trees, composed of fine grass, rootlets, etc. EGGS, four to six in number, oval in 

 form, ashy-white in color, spotted and blotched with yellowish-brown and bluish. Dimensions from '75 x -95 to '85 x 1-05. 



HABITS. 



The Great Northern Shrike comes to us most abundantly when there is a migration of 

 small birds from the North, for these form a large portion of the food of this rapacious bird. 

 In spite of its predatory disposition, this Shrike sings well, though it also has a harsh scream, 

 but in other respects, this species resembles the Loggerhead, described on page 83. 



PYRANGA RUBRA. 



Scarlet Tanager. 

 Pyramja rubra VIELL., Ois. Am.; 1807. 



SP. Cn. Form, slender. Size, medium. COLOR. Adult. Bright scarlet, with wings arid tail black, the former oc- 

 casionally having a patch of scarlet. Female. Greenish throughout; brownish on wings and tail, and lighter beneath. 

 In autumn, and Younr/. Similar to summer female but the wings and tail of males are black. 



Observations. Known by the black wings and tail. See observations on page 85 for further comparison. Breeds from 

 the Carolina* to Maine; winters south of our limits. DIMENSIONS. Length, 6'7s?; stretch, 11'75; wing, 3'75; tail, 2'80; bill, 

 '55; tarsus, '70. 



Nests and Egys. NESTS, placed in trees, composed of twigs. EGGS, three to five in number, oval in form, bluish-green 

 in color, spotted and blotched with purplish-brown and lilac. Dimensions from '60 x '85 to '65 x '95. 



HABITS. 



The well-known Scarlet Tanager is not uncommon in Eastern Massachusetts, and is 

 very abundant in Pennsylvania, where the color is deeper than further north. They breed 

 in early June, often placing the nest in the top of some sapling, and I have found the dom- 

 iciles on limbs which overhung a public road. The song of this fine bird resembles thfifr 

 of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak somewhat, but has a peculiar quaver which is, however, 

 more noticeable in Pennsylvania than with us. The alarm note sounds like the syllables, 

 chip churr, and is readily recognized when once heard. The Scarlet Tanager frequents 

 open oak woods, and migrates early in September. 



