OF VIRGINIA 251 
bird with us, though suitable localities seldom fail to have 
their single pair. The casual observer is apt to confuse 
them with the Cardinal, especially during the breeding 
season, on account of the height of the nest, often not six 
feet from the ground. The nest is placed on the crotch 
of a lower limb of a tree, an oak, dogwood or pine, gener- 
ally. Three to four eggs is a complete set with us, a 
pale bluish-green, spotted and blotched with reddish- 
brown, Size, .92x.64. Fresh eggs May 20th to June 
12th. They do not winter with us. Nest composed of 
fine straws or grasses, loosely made, or woven together. 
Only one brood a season. The spring migratory birds 
reach us about April 17th, and depart southward August 
5th to. Sth. Their song is uttered from the tree tops, 
seldom when in close proximity to the nest or ground, 
and is rather pleasing to the ear, though it never varies, 
being confined to three notes, and a short stanza similar 
to the Red-eyed Vireo. Long distances are made in search 
of food and nesting material, the male following his mate 
back and forth while nest building is going on. While 
they are not an abundant bird with us, still the amount 
of food taken from the higher foliage, such as caterpillars, 
beetles, and larve, must be reckoned with, and places 
them in the beneficial list. Single pairs are scattered 
sparingly over our whole area. 
