THE PHILADELPHIA VIREO. 297 



alarm note, we-an or ye-an, with the French nasal "n." This is delivered 

 about twenty-five times a minute, while the bird holds to one perch without 

 moving, save to sway from side to side or to twist its head rythmically — a sort 

 of nervous relief whose exact function is in doubt. 



The nest of this Vireo is a model of neatness, being swung by the brim 

 from the forked tips of horizontal or declining limbs, as in the case of the two 

 species illustrated. The materials used are strips of thin bark, hemp, dead 

 leaves bleached to the color of oxidized silver, and various vegetable downs. 

 The exterior is frequently ornamented with lichens and shreds of cocoons or 

 wasps' nests. Bits of newspaper are always acceptable, and some nests are 

 largely composed of this interesting by-product of civilization. 



No. 130. 



PHILADELPHIA VIREO. 



A. O. U. No. 626. Vireo philadelphicus (Cass.). 



Description. — Adult: Above, dull olive-green over gray, ashy on head; 

 narrow frontal line and area around eye whitish, save for short, dusky line through 

 eye ; wings and tail fuscous, edged narrowly with olive-green ; no apparent spu- 

 rious quill; no white wing-bars; first primary shorter than fourth; tip of wing 

 formed by second and third; below everywhere, except on chin, pale sulphur- 

 yellow ; sides sometimes buffy or olivaceous ; bill blackish above, paler below ; 

 feet plumbeous. Length 4.75-5.00 (120.6-127.) ; wing 1.60 (40.6); tail about 

 2.00 (50.8) ; bill from nostril .27 (6.9). 



Recognition Marks. — Warbler size ; an almost exact counterpart of V. gilvus, 

 and known from it positively only by the apparent absence of spurious quill (it 

 having been nearly aborted) ; it may usually be distinguished, however, by its 

 slightly smaller size, and yellower coloration below, as well as by its more marked 

 olive above. 



Nesting. — ^Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, pensile, of grass and birch bark, 

 suspended from fork of horizontal branch eight feet up. Eggs, 4, like those of 

 V. olivaceus (E. E. Thompson). 



General Ran^e. — As yet imperfectly known ; eastern North America north 

 to Hudson Bay ; south in winter to Costa Rica and Panama. Breeds from Maine, 

 New Hampshire and Manitoba northward. 



Range in Ohio. — Probably not uncommon, but little observed, spring and 

 fall migrant. 



"NOT very common but regular spring and fall migrant, in May and 

 September. The Philadelphia Vireo is one of the most interesting of the 



