3i8 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



about among the leaves freeing the trees from vermin and singing all 

 the while. Very painstaking about their work they are, and every 

 portion of the leaves is carefully searched both above and below, and 

 the attitudes they assume are ridiculous in the extreme. Woodland 

 composed of large trees rather than the smaller growths seems to be 

 preferred, probably because of the greater abundance of their desired 

 food. They are not in the least afraid of mankind or modern improve- 

 ments, and are frequently heard about the houses even in large cities 

 wherever there are large trees. Their song might be likened to a 

 whistling interpretation of the word "Vireo," this being continually re- 

 peated with countless variations as to accent and syllables. For hours 

 at a time this music is heard with only short pauses when the bird stops 

 to take breath or to swallow a morsel that he has found. I know of no 

 other bird than the Vireos who are such persistent songsters. What- 

 ever they are doing has to be done in time to the music. I have often 

 seen one of them hanging head down from the under side of a branch 

 and looking over the under surfaces of the leaves, but still singing as 

 sweetly as though in a normal position. 



However welcome their song may be in some gloomy piece of woods, 

 deserted by all the other birds, it becomes quite monotonous at times, 

 and often upsets the equanimity of the observer who is earnestly try- 

 ing to locate or identify some unknown species of bird by his song. 



Aside from their noise, Red-eyed Vireos are rather quiet mannered 

 birds and seem to be slow to anger, but when they do get aroused they 

 go at their opponent with a vim, and utter a harsh screech which gen- 

 erally puts him to flight at the first onslaught. 



During the two weeks following June 10th of this year, I had a very 

 pleasant acquaintance with an unusually bright pair of Vireos. It was 

 on that date that I first saw their nest. It then contained four eggs. 

 This nest was discovered by seeing one of the birds fly past with a 

 piece of paper in its bill. I followed and was just in time to see the 

 Vireo carefully weaving it into the outside structure to repair some 

 point that did not just suit them. 



They had chosen for their summer residence, one of the prettiest 

 places ever selected by a pair of Vireos. It was in a pleasant piece of 

 woods overlooking Lake Quinsagamond. Not only were their natural 

 surroundings pleasant, but they had congenial neighbors too. This 

 latter fact added a great deal to my pleasure in the scene. Sitting 

 under the shade of a giant chestnut tree within ten feet of the Vireos 

 nest, I could plainly see with my glass all that transpired at the nest of 

 the Redstart that was shown last month. Within about six feet of and 

 behind me was the nest of an Ovenbird, and the owner of that domicile 



