THE RED-EYED VIREO. 399 



The Scarlet Tanagcr thrives well in confinement, and makes a beautiful 

 and interesting pet. Wc once kept one caged for over six montlis. He 

 ate seeds and small fruits, and within a week after his capture, chanted his 

 warbling song with perfect freedom. lie had, and we have also noted that 

 all of this species have, a sort of ventriloquism in his song. It at times 

 sounded as if at quite a distance ; and we have been deceived in tliis man- 

 ner, by birds that were almost over our head, into supposing that they were 

 far away. The song is almost exactly like that of the robin, but is often 

 broken with a pensive call-note, sounding like the syllables cliip c/iiirr. 



Early in September, the Tanagers leave for their southern homes, from 

 which they seem, while here, hardly more than wanderers. They winter, 

 probably, in Central America and the Bahamas. 



Of tlie Tanagers, there are nearly two hundred and thirty species, most of 

 which are peculiar to South America ; a great many, to ]\Iexico and Central 

 America, and three or four are visitors to the United States. 



Ivesembling the Sylvicolinie in habits, and by Lilljeborg classed with them, 

 are the ^'ireos. 



In the present volume we will place them in a family by themselves, 

 called the 



ViREOXID.K. YlREOS. 



Bill short, strong, straight ; tlie culmcn slightly curved, the sides much 

 compressed to the tip, which is ra[)idly curved and deflected ; the gonys 

 long and ascending; the gape witli siiort, weak bristles; the nostrils basal, 

 rounded, and exposed, the featiiers of the head advancing forward on the 

 bill to the nostril ; wings variable, rather long, and iiointcd ; the first quill 

 sometimes spurious, the larger outer one always graduated a little ; tail 

 nearly even, and rather short ; tarsi longer tiian the middle toe; outer toe 

 a little longer than the inner ; hind toe rather shorter than the middle one. 



Of these birds, the beautiful Iled-eyed Vireo, with its green coat and white 

 vest, is a good representative. 



We feel that no description of ours can begin to do justice to the genial, 

 happy, industrious disposition of this, one of our most common, and perhaps 

 best-beloved birds. From the time of its arri\al, about the first week in 

 May, until its departure, about the first week in October, it is seen in tlie 

 foliage of elms and other shade trees in the midst of our cities and villages, 

 in the apple trees near the farm-houses, and in the tall oaks and chestnuts in 

 the deep forests. Always, almost unceasingly, at all hours of the day, from 

 early dawn until evening twilight, his sweet, half-plaintive, half-meditative 

 carol is heard. "VVe know that we are not singular in our preference, when 

 we say, that, of all our feathered acciuaintances, this is the greatest favorite 



