VIREOS, oR GREENLET®S. 
Vireonidz. 
(\ IREOS, Or GREENLETS, though closely allied to our exquisitely colored 
ye Wood Warblers, are very characteristic birds. They are not attired 
ji in vivid colors, and the sexes can not be distinguished with any 
ee yA g certainty. The color of the back and the head is usually gray or 
5 olive-green, while the under-parts are white, yellow, or olivaceous. 
The bill is like that of a Shrike in miniature, and for this reason Dr. A. 
E. Brehm, in his celebrated work, ‘‘Thierleben,’”’ called them Leaf Shrikes 
(Laubwiirger). They are small birds and their food consists almost 
exclusively of inse¢éts, which they collect from the leaves, the blossoms, 
and the bark of forest and orchard trees and shrubs. All the Vireos are 
exceedingly beneficial, as they destroy an immense number of noxious 
insects. It is deeply to be regretted that these and all our insectivorous 
birds are not cared for and protected in such a way as they should be. Our State laws 
for the protection of birds ought to be strictly enforced. Parents, teachers, all good 
citizens, and the press can do much valuable work in this direction. Birds beautify the 
landscape. They imbue our woodlands, meadows, fields, and gardens with poetry and 
song. They are valuable property not only from an esthetical and ethical standpoint, 
but also in regard to their valuable work in destroying injurious inseéts. They make 
our life happier and more poetical. It is a great outrage, if our boys are allowed to 
rove about shooting birds, disturbing their nests, and collecting their eggs. It should 
be a far greater pleasure to them to observe the birds and their ways closely, to plant 
dense shrubs for nesting-sites, and to build nesting-boxes for Bluebirds, Wrens, Titmice, 
Martins, and Great-crested Flycatchers. The aim of our rising generation should be, 
not to destroy, but conscientiously to preserve the beautiful and useful in nature. 
Parents and educationists should consider it their paramount duty to call the attention 
of their children and pupils to the beauties in nature, to make them acquainted with 
our native birds, and to create a sentiment that they must be protected. 
