208 USEFUL BIRDS. 
commonly seen there in the breeding season than in deep 
woods. 
The nest of this bird, which is about a week in the build- 
ing, is outwardly one of the handsomest specimens of bird 
architecture to be found anywhere. It is difficult to see how 
it is possible for a bird to con- 
struct such a nest, and cover 
it so tastefully with lichens 
and plantdown. Undoubtedly 
the skillful use of caterpillars’ web 
serves in attaching these ornamen- 
tal materials. 
The bird is comparatively deliber- 
ate in both song and movement, and, 
Bigs Ya — einai though naturally shy when it was con- 
Vireo, two-thirds natural fined to the open woods, it has now 
sie become rather fearless, and may be 
readily watched with a glass as it moves among the tall trees. 
The song isa little louder than that of most Vireos, and may 
be easily distinguished from all others. It usually consists 
of two or three rich and virile notes, uttered interrogatively 
or tentatively, followed immediately by a few similar tones 
uttered decisively. The bird appears to ask a question, and 
then answer it. Its alarm notes are as harsh as those of an 
Oriole, and somewhat similar in quality. 
This Vireo should be most carefully protected and encour- 
aged to breed about the homes of man, for it feeds upon pests 
of the household, forest, and orchard. Common house flies 
and mosquitoes are eaten. In the orchard it attacks the 
apple plant lice, the hairy tent, gipsy, and tussock cater- 
pillars, as well as moths of many species. It is quite de- 
structive to the larve of butterflies also, while weevils and 
other beetles, grasshoppers, and leaf hoppers are eaten to a 
less extent. This species eats a few unimportant wild ber- 
ries, such as the fruit of the red cedar; but so far as I have 
observed it is not so fond of fruit as the Red-eyed Vireo, 
and its only possible harmful habits seem to be the occa- 
sional destruction of a bee, a syrphus fiy, or some hyme- 
nopterous parasite. 
