328 



VIREOS. 



Fig. 91.— Bed- eyed Vireo. (Natural 

 size.) 



to twenty feet up. Eggs, three to four, white, with a pinkish hue, speckled 

 and spotted, chiefly at the larger end, with reddish brown, -TS x -SS. 



This is a not uncommon summer resident in southern Florida, ar- 

 riving from its winter home in Central America early in May. Its 

 song resembles that of the Red-eyed Vireo, but is somewhat more hesi- 

 tating and emphatic. 



624> Vireo olivaceus {Idnn.). Eed-eyed Vireo. Ad. — Crown 

 slaty gray, bordered on either side by blackish ; a conspicuous white line over 

 the eye; rest of the upper parts, wings, and tail light olive-green; no wing- 

 bars ; under parts pure white. L., 6-23 ; 

 W., 3-20 ; T., 2-20 ; B. from N., -40. 



Hemarks. — The well-defined slaty- 

 gray cap, bordered by narrow black 

 lines, are the best distinguishing marks 

 of this species. 



Bange. — Eastern North America; 

 westward to British Columbia; breeds 

 from the Gulf States to Labrador and 

 Manitoba; winters in Central and 

 South America. 



Washington, very common S. E., 

 Apl. 25 to Oct. 15. Sing Sing, common S. K., Apl. 29 to Oct. 19. Cambridge, 

 abundant S. K., May 10 to Sept. 10. 



Nest, pensile, of strips of bark, bits of dead wood, paper, and plant down, 

 firmly and smoothly interwoven, lined with finer strips of bark and vine ten- 

 drils, suspended from a forked branch, five to forty feet up. Eggs, three to 

 four, white, with a few black or umber specks or spots about the larger end, 

 •85 X -55. 



This, the most common and generally distributed of our Vireos, is 

 found alike in the shade trees of our lawns, in orchards, or woodlands. 

 The conspicuous white line over the eye, with its black border, and the 

 bird's red eye, are good character.s by which to distinguish it from its 

 relatives. 



Wilson Plagg's description of the Red-eye to my mind exactly re- 

 flects the character of the bird and its song : " The Preacher is more 

 generally known by his note, because he is incessant in his song, and 

 particularly vocal during the heat of our long summer days, when only 

 a few birds are singing. His style of preaching is not declamation. 

 Though constantly talking, he takes the part of a deliberative orator, 

 who explains his subject in a few words and then makes a pause for 

 his hearers to reflect upon it. We might suppose him to be repeating 

 moderately, with a pause between each sentence, ' You see it — you 

 know it — do you hear me ?— do you believe it? ' All these strains are 

 delivered with a rising inflection at the close, and with a pause, as if 

 waiting for an answer." 



