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Birds of Massachusetts. 121 
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the warblers, is not now uncommon in this State, 
however it may have been in former years. 
The Yzrrow-sREAsTED Icrerta, Icteria viridis, 
certainly makes occasional visits here, though it is 
generally described as not passing the bounds of our 
adjoining states. Professor Emmons assures me that 
he has found it in Berkshire. Their ordinary migra- 
tion does not extend so far, but in the middle states 
they abound. 
The YzrrLow-rHRoarED Vireo, Vireo flavifrons, 
is one of a beautiful family of singers, some of which 
are quite familiar, and highly valued for the sweet- 
ness of their song. This is not the most musical 
of their number, but its note is pleasant, resembling 
that of the red-eye. It prefers the solitude of the 
forest to the society of man, and there employs itself 
in exploring the branches of the largest trees, in 
search of its insect food; passing over each with 
short hops, examining every leaf and bud, in order 
to be sure that nothing is left undetected. There it 
may be found from May to September, when it 
retreats to the warmest parts of America. 
Its nest, like that of other vireos, is suspended 
from the branch of a tree, being attached to the 
twigs with slender strings, mixed with the threads 
$ of _Caterpillars and fine blades of grass, cemented 
ith the. saliva of the bird. 'The whole is covered 
Breen moss, attached by threads of silk, and 
resembles the foliage in color so much as to deceive, 
VOL. L. n. —No. il. 16 =, 
m MS 
F1 2d d 
