Red-Eyed Vireos. 



67 



them, what a picture of eager 

 desire, tremulous impatience, 

 and keen rivalry they present ! 

 The food is sometimes quickly 

 placed in the throat of one, and 

 as quickly withdrawn to be giv- 

 en to another, and when there 

 are more than two it may go 

 the rounds before it is allowed 

 to remain, a common practice 

 the true meaning of which we 

 have already seen. 



After inspection is com- 

 pleted and the nest cleaned, the 

 parent bird flies to any conven- 

 ient spot, carefully wipes the 

 slime from her bill, stretches 

 her wings, and smoothes out all 

 the ruffles in her dress. These 

 birds always look as sleek as a 

 new silk hat, every feather lying 

 smooth in its place. 



One day while in my tent, 

 a small bird of another species 

 suddenly darted down upon 

 this nest. There was a momen- 

 tary flutter, a clash of beaks 

 and claws, and the intruder was 

 promptly driven away. 



It was always interesting 

 to watch the behavior of the 

 young between the intervals of 

 feeding. The moisture would 

 fairly glisten in their wide-open 

 mouths. They snapped at every 

 ant and flying insect which came 

 within their reach, but I never 

 saw a single capture. The prey- 

 ing instinct is undoubtedly one 

 of the most ancient among an- 

 imals, and young birds peck 

 instinctively at all kinds of small 

 objects, but precision of aim 

 which leads to success in cap- 

 turing their prey must be ac- 



-ig. 53. Male Red-eyed Vireo who is less preoccupied in performing 

 the same duty. 



Fig. 54. Female Red-eyed Vireo approaching the young. 



Fig. 55. Drawing back through timidity. 



