78 VERTEBRATES: BIRDS. 



upon thorns and other sharp points, as a butcher hangs 



up his meats upon sharp hooks in his stall. It builds 



a large nest of twigs, grass, and moss, in the forks 



of a tree. 



The Vireos are much smaller 



than the Shrike, and mostly 



olive-green above and light 



below. The Red-eyed Vi- 



reo has the iris of the eye 



red. Its loud, clear notes 



are heard in the tree-tops „ 



,.,,,,. Fig. 127. — Warbling Vireo. 



from sprmg till late in au 



tumn. The White-eyed and the Warbling Vireo are 



small species, and their notes are very pleasant. 



MOCKmG-BIRDS, &c. 



These birds are closely related to the Thrushes, and 

 are very sweet singers. The Mocking-Bird, of the 

 Southern States, is about the size of the robin, with a 



Fig. 128. — Mooking-Bird. 



very long tail, and the color is ashy. It sings with 

 great sweetness, and readily imitates the songs of all 

 the birds which it hears. It is a very common pet in 

 cages. 



