RED-EYED VIREO. 289 



until dusk, and going to roost together at nightfall. I do not recollect 

 ever having seen one of them on the ground. 



Like the true Flycatchers, these birds eject small pellets formed of the 

 hard crusts of the abdomen, legs, and other parts of insects. I have but 

 very seldom seen them feeding on berries of any kind, although in Loui- 

 siana I have observed them pecking at ripe figs. 



The nest of the Red-eyed Vireo is small, and extremely neat. It is 

 generally suspended, at a moderate height, from the slender twigs form- 

 ing the fork at the end of a branch. I have found some situated so low 

 that I could easily look into them, while others were hung thirty feet 

 over head. Dog-wood trees seem to be preferred by them, although I 

 have found the nests on oaks, beeches, and sugar-maples, as well as on 

 tall grasses. The male bird frequently leads you to the discovery of the 

 nest, by its great anxiety about the safety of its mate. The outer parts 

 are firmly attached to the twigs, the fibres being warped around them 

 in various directions. The materials are usually the bark of the grape- 

 vine, the silk of large cocoons, some lichens, particles of hornets' or wasps' 

 nests, and decayed worm-eaten leaves. The lining, which is beautifully 

 disposed, consists of fibrous roots, grasses, and now and then the hair of 

 various quadrupeds, especially the grey squirrel and racoon. The nest, 

 however, differs greatly in different latitudes ; for, in the Middle States, 

 they often use the leaves of the pine, cedar, and hemlock, which they 

 glue together apparently with their saliva. The eggs are from four to 

 six, pure white, sparingly spotted at the larger end with reddish-brown or 

 blackish dots. They are laid in Pennsylvania about the first of June, 

 and later in more northern parts. 



The eyes of the Young are of an umber colour, and do not become 

 red until the following spring. Those of some shot in the Floridas in 

 January, had not changed their colour. In February I shot two, each 

 of which had a red and a brown eye. 



This species, as well as the White-eyed Vireo, is often called to nurse 

 the young of the Cow Bird, which deposits its egg in the nests of either 

 species, assured that it will be properly treated. No difference exists in 

 the plumage, or even size of the sexes. 



Wilson, who was a most excellent observer, was quite correct, as 

 well as Dr Barton of Philadelphia, in alluding to another species of Vi- 

 reo, which, although nearly allied to this, is quite distinct. It is smaller, 

 has brown eyes at all times of its life, sings sweetly, lives in low thickets, 



VOL. II. X 



