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THE WHITE-EYED FLY-CATCHER, OR VIREO. 



ViREO NOVEBURACENSIS, Ch. BoNAP. 

 PLATE LXIII. Male. 



This interesting little bird enters the State of Louisiana often as early 

 as the 1st of March. Indeed, some individuals may now and then be seen 

 a week or ten days sooner, provided the weather be mild. It throws itself 

 into the thickest part of the briars, sumachs, and small evergreen bushes,, 

 which form detached groves in abandoned fields, where its presence is at 

 once known by the smartness of its song. This song is composed of many 

 different notes, emitted with great spirit, and a certain degree of pompo- 

 sity, which makes it differ materially from that of all other Fly-catchers. 

 It is frequently repeated during the day. 



These birds become at once so abundant, that it would be more diffi- 

 cult not to meet one, than to observe a dozen or more, during a morning 

 walk. Their motions are as animated as their music. They pass from 

 twig to twig, upwards or downwards, examining every opening bud and 

 leaf, and securing an insect or a larva at every leap. Their flight is short, 

 light, and easy. Their migrations are performed during the day, and by 

 passing from one low bush to another, for these birds seldom ascend to 

 the tops of even moderately tall trees. Like all our other visitors, they 

 move eastward as the season opens, and do not reach the Middle States 

 before the end of April, or the beginning of ]\Iay. Notwithstanding this 

 apparently slow progress, they reach and disperse over a vast expanse of 

 country. I have met with some in every part of the United States which 

 I have visited. 



]VIany remain in Louisiana, where they rear two broods, perhaps some- 

 times three, in a season. Of this, however, I am not quite certain. I 

 never saw them alight on the ground, unless for the purpose of drinking, 

 or of. procuring fibrous roots for their nests. They are fond of sipping 

 the dew drops that hang at the extremities of leaves. Their sorties after 

 insects seldom extend beyond the bushes. 



About the first of April, the White-eyed Fly-catcher forms a nest of 

 dry slender twigs, broken pieces of grasses, and portions of old hornets' 



