* 
OF NEW ENGLAND. 161 
the place under the delusion that the passage-birds (or most 
of them) had fairly gone, an immense flock of birds suddenly. 
appeared, evidently traveling from the North southward, and 
were soon scattered over the place. Among them were many 
Snow-birds, White-throated, Fox-colored, Tree, and Song Spar- 
rows, Ruby-crowned ‘ Wrens,’ Golden-crowned ‘ Wrens,’ Nut- 
hatches, Brown Creepers, and Chickadees. Never have I seen 
an assemblage of birds exhibiting such a variety of species. 
At noon most of them had disappeared.” 
The White-eyed Vireos frequent lightly timbered woods, par- 
ticularly those which are in low land and contain a second 
growth about the taller trees, and also swamps, thickets, and 
the “scrub.” They have a habit of moving their tails, much 
like the Shrikes. They keep nearer to the ground than our 
other vireos, and are so shy, that, if they were silent, they 
would rarely be seen as they busy themselves in the common 
pursuit of their family, that of insects. 
(d). When, however, their nest is approached, they display-p, 
themselves, and are usually very vehement in their expressions 
of anger (unlike their relations, particularly the Solitary Vi- a 
reos), and utter a harsh scold or chatter, and sometimes a 
peculiar mewing, or other querulous cry. Their song is very 
peculiar or even eccentric, and is very loud for such small birds. 
It is full of character, energy, and vehemence, though some of 
the lower whistles are sweet and quite different in tone. It 
partakes of the owners’ nature, much as the human voice does, 
and indicates the almost fiery temperament of these little vi- 
reos, which is so markedly in contrast with the cheerfulness, 
gentleness, and calmness, of other members of their family. 
Their music is constantly varied, and in it one may occasion- 
ally hear the apparently mimicked notes of other birds. 
§14. Laniides, Shrikes. (See § 13.) 
I. COLLURIO F 
(A) Borgatts. (Great Northern) Shrike. ‘“Butcher-bird.” 
(A winter-visitant to Massachusetts, but never very common.) 
(a). 9-10 inches long. Above, light bluish-ash, very light 
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