124 
NEW-YORK FAUNA —- BIRDS. 
THE RED-EYED GREENLET. 
VlREO OLIVACEUS. 
PLATE 36. FIG. 79. — PLATE 34. FIG. 75 (Variety). 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Muscicapa olivacea , Linn^ds. Red-eyed. Flycatcher , Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 387. 
Sylvia olivacea. Wilson, Ara.Orn. Vol. 2, p. 55, pi. 12, fig. 2. 
M. olivacea . Vieillot, Ois. de l’Am. pi. 38 ; Sylvia altiloqua , Nouv. Diet. 
Vireo olivaceus. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 71. Aububon, fol. pi. 150 ; Orn. Biog. Vol. 2, p. 287, 
and Vol. 5, p. 430. 
Red-eyed Greenlet. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 233. Nuttall, Vol. 1, p. 312, figure. Audubon, B. of A- 
Vol. 4, p. 155, pi. 242. Vireosylvia id. Bonaparte, List. 
Red-eyed Greenlet . Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 157. 
Characteristics. Olive green. Crown ash, with a dark marginal line ; line over the eye, 
and all beneath whitish. Irides red. First quill longer than the fifth. 
Length, inches. 
Description. Bill long and robust, abruptly bent at the tip, distinctly notched. Wings 
long; second and third quills longest. Tail nearly even or slightly emarginate, extending 
half an inch beyond the tips of the closed wings. 
Color. Light olive green above ; the head ash-color, with a blackish line on each side: 
below this is a white line passing through and beyond the eye. Quills dusky white on the 
inner vanes. Tail brownish ; the inner vanes dusky. Beneath whitish, with a yellow tinge 
on the sides. 
Length, 5 - 5-6'0. Alar extent, 9 - 0-9’5. 
In the young, the deep line over the eye is not apparent, and the eye is dark hazel. I have 
figured (pi. 34) a remarkable variety in the Cabinet of the Lyceum, in which the whole 
upper parts are mottled green and ash, and the lower parts ashen grey with a faint tinge of 
greenish. 
The Red-eyed Greenlet ranges from Mexico to the 55th degree of north latitude. It win¬ 
ters also in Florida. It reaches us in the latter part of April, and breeds throughout the State. 
The eggs are white, sprinkled with brownish black points. It feeds on insects, and, later in 
the season, on seeds and berries. A common species. Migrates south from this State in the 
beginning of October. 
