372 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Dr. ('(ini)er states that its nests are i)omleiit from tlui forks of a branch 

 lii,nh ultove tlie around, sometiiiu's to the hei<j;lit of a hiuuh'cd feet. 



Mr. Uidgway, who observed tlie habits of this apucies in Utah and Ne- 

 vada, sjieaks of it as the cliaracteristic Vireo of the West. It was found by 

 liini in all the I'ertile localities, and was one of the most common birds in the 

 wooded reyions. lie found it vevy ;j;enerally distributed through the sum- 

 mer, inhaliitinj; the copses along the streams of the mountain canons, and 

 the open groves of the parks, as well ivs the cottonwooils and willows of the 

 river valleys. In the fall the berries of a species of the cornel that grows 

 along the mountain streams constitute its princijjal food. Its notes and man- 

 ners are identical with those of the Eastern species. 



The nests of this species are not distinguishable, except in the necessarily 

 varying materials, from those of the Eastern bird,s. In position, size, and shape 

 they are the same. The eggs, four or five in number, are white, spotted with 

 brown and reddish-brown, and measure .78 by .58 of an inch. The spots are 

 somewhat darker than those of the V. (jilvus, and the shape more of an ob- 

 long-oval, in all that 1 have seen. But this dill'ereuce may disajjpear in the 

 examination of a larger number. 



A nest found by ]Mr. Kidgway near Eort Churchill, Nevada, June 24, was 

 susjjended from the extremity of a twig of a sapling of the cottonwood, 

 in a copse of the same growing in a river-bottom. It has a height of two 

 and a half inches, and a diameter of three. It is composed externally of 

 an elaborate interweaving of spiders'-webs, willow and cottonwood down, 

 and strong cord-like strips of tine inner bark. These are strongly bound 

 around the twigs from which the nest is suspended. It is one of the most 

 elaborately interwoven, homogeneous, and well-felted nests of this bird I 

 have ever met with. Another nest, from I'arley's Park, Utah, obtained June 

 28, differs in having the external jjortion woven almost exclusively of fine 

 strips of bleached bark, and is lined ■.vith fine wiry grasses. In each of these 

 the eggs were lour in number, all oblong-oval in shape, but much more 

 ]iointed at one end in the latter nest. 



This sjtecies was ibund breeding in Napa Valley, Cal., by Mr. A. J. Gray- 

 sun, and at Fort Tejon by Mr. Xautus. 



Subgenus jjANIVIREO, Hauiu. 



Cii.ut. Body stout, lioad Itroiid. Bill .sliort niid ,<itout, liroiid iit tlio lin.w, the imltncn 

 cnrvcd from tlie base, tlie eoiumi.s.-iiiro considerably urched. Bill bluc-blauk. I'oet stout. 

 Type, 1' JktviJ'rons, For figure, .sue page 379. 



Species and Varieties. 



Common CiiAKA('Ti:iis<. A broiid stripe froiu bill to and around, but not beyond, 

 the eye. Two brnad white banils across the wings. Bill pluuiboous-blue, black 

 toward culuien. Iris brown in all .species? 



