220 VIRBOS. 



within the Arctic Circle, and in October journeys south- 

 ward, rarely as far as Virginia, and remains in the United 

 States until April or May. 



The Loggerhead Shrike is common in the Southern 

 States and Mississippi Valley, whence it has apparently 

 extended eastward through central JS^ew York to Ver- 

 mont and Maine. It nests in these States, but southward 

 to Maryland is known only as a rare migrant — a unique 

 case in distribution. It differs from the I^orthern Shrike 

 in being an inch and a quarter smaller, in the absence of the 

 wavy bars on the breast, which is pure white, and in hav- 

 ing jet-black lores and a narrow black line across the fore- 

 head at the base of the bill. Its song is creaky and un- 

 musical, but the song of the Northern Shrike, as de- 

 scribed by Mr. Brewster, is " really pleasing," and " not 

 unlike that of the Thrasher, but more disconnected and 

 less loud and varied." 



ViREOs. (Family Virbonid^.) 



Vireos are gleaners, and are to be distinguished from 

 other tree-inhabiting, greenish birds of the same size by 

 their habit of carefully exploring the under surface of 

 leaves and various nooks and corners in the bark and 

 foliage, while the more active Warblers are flitting about 

 the terminal twigs and the Flycatchers are swinging out 

 in aerial loops at passing insects. 



They are highly musical little birds, having songs and 

 call -notes which may be quickly recognized once they 

 are known. The nests and eggs of our four summer- 

 resident species are so much alike that they are to be 

 known only when accompanied by their owners. The 

 White-eyed Vireo inhabits thickets and, as a rule, builds 

 nearer the ground than the arboreal Red-eyed, Yellow- 

 throated, and Warbling Vireos. The nests are small, 



