- The Fearless White-Eyed Vireo 317 



bird nests in the vicinity of West Haven, Conn., it happened 

 that I came upon one of the most fearless individuals of this 

 fearless race. I pushed my way through a thicket of green- 

 brier vines, and there in a little open space, on a drooping' 

 branch of a white birch that grew among the green-briers, 

 sat a Vireo not three feet from my eyes, gazing down into its 

 nest, and blinking the clear white eye that instantly told its 

 species. The nest didn't' look cjuite finished. The bird was not 

 on it, but above it, so not wishing the disappointment of a 

 deserted nest I didn't press my acquaintance further, but 

 withdrew, to return later when the home was more firmly 

 established. 



My next visit was made the morning of May 29. The bird 

 was on the nest this time and showed no disposition to leave 

 until I had almost touched it. The nest contained three eggs. 

 The bird did not go far, but remained in the bushes not two 

 feet away and sang the short impetuous song repeatedly. 

 From this fact I decided that either the female was a singer, 

 or else the male shared in the duties of incubation. As soon 

 as I had ceased my examination, and before I was out of 

 sight, the bird returned to the nest and settled down to incu- 

 bation again. 



On June 1 I again visited the nest with a camera with 

 which to secure pictures of the sitting' bird. The nest now 

 contained four eggs, the last having probably been laid on 

 the morning of May 30, or possibly May 31. The pictures 

 were 'easily taken, the bird sitting so still that long time ex- 

 posures proved successful. The bird seemed more fearless 

 than before, and only left the nest when I touched it, return- 

 ing as soon as my hand was removed. When ofif the nest the 

 bird sang repeatedly. Just why it should sing under such 

 conditions is hard to say, but it was easy to imagine that the 

 emphatic song was one of defiance to the disturber of its 

 home. 



It was during this visit that I first saw the mate of this 

 bird and settled the question of s'ex. The other bird pro- 

 tested with a low, harsh scolding note, but no song. It would 



