176 SINGING BIRDS. 



last material and fine root-fibres ; but the finishing layer, as if 

 to preserve elasticity, is of rather coarse grass-stalks. Exter- 

 nally the nest is coated over with green lichen, attached very 

 artfully by slender strings of caterpillars' silk, and the whole 

 afterwards tied over by almost invisible threads of the same, so 

 as to appear as if glued on ; and the entire fabric now resem- 

 bles an accidental knot of the tree grown over with moss. 



The food of this species during the summer is insects, but 

 towards autumn they and their young feed also on various 

 small berries. About the middle of September the whole move 

 off and leave the United States, probably to winter in tropical 

 America. 



Nuttall followed the older authors in naming the forest as the 

 favorite haunt of this species. Later observers consider that it 

 frequents orchards and fields quite as much as the woods, and it is 

 reported as common in the gardens near Boston. 



It occurs in southern New England and the Middle States as 

 far west as Iowa, and in Manitoba, where it is common. It has 

 not been found in the Maritime Provinces, but is common near 

 Montreal and in Ontario. 



BLUE-HEADED VIREO. 



SOLITARY VIREO. 

 ViREO SOLITARIUS. 



Char. Above, bright olive ; line from nostril to and around the eyes 

 whitish ; crown and sides of head bluish ash ; beneath, white, sides and 

 flanks shaded with olive and yellow ; wings dusky with two bars of 

 yellowish white ; tail dusky, feathers edged with white. Length 5 to 6 

 inches. 



Nest. Suspended from fork of branch of low tree or bush ; composed 

 of grass or vegetable fibre, ornamented with moss or lichens, lined with 

 grass and plant down. 



Eggs. Creamy white, spotted, in wreath around larger end, with bright 

 brown ; 0.80 X 0.50. 



This is one of the rarest species of the genus, and from 

 Georgia to Pennsylvania seems only as a straggler or acci- 

 dental visitor. 



