56 
N£STS AND EGGS OF 
they vacate the nest, hut continue under the watchful eyes of their parents 
a week longer, when they are able to forage for themselves. 
The anxieties of brood-raising being over, both young and old, the 
former in imitation of their parents, seek the tall tree-tops and glean in 
company. Later, they come down from these lofty retreats to delve among 
the grasses. Finally, as if disdaining too near an apj^roach to earth, they 
quickly forsake such groveling j)ursuits, and seek the viburnum and dog- 
wood bushes, where they find many a rich repast. Here they remain until 
the last of September, or the beginning of October, when cold weather and 
scarcity of food compel them to hunt warmer climes. 
The eggs of this Vireo vary considerably in size, according to locality; 
the further south the smaller they are found. Specimens from Northern 
Alabama have an average measurement of .77 of an inch by .52 ; from 
Nova Scotia, .94 by .65 ; from Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, inter- 
mediate localities, .82 by .56, and .83 by 62. The ground-color of all is 
a clear crystal-white, and they are marked with sjiots and fine dots of 
red-hrown, which are chiefly found at the larger extremity. But a single 
brood is raised, although nests with eggs have been taken early in July, 
which must be attributed to birds whom accident or design had prevented 
from obeying their natural instincts earlier. 
