BARTRAM'S VIREO. 153 



have an agreeable odour, but are of short duration, although the tree con- 

 tinues blooming for several months. It is not unfrequent to find it, in the 

 Southern States, in flower during autumn. The species is characterized by- 

 its ovate leaves, which are glaucous beneath, and its obovate petals, narrowed 

 at the base. It bears different names in the different States, such as swamp 

 laurel, swamp sassafras, sweet bay, ivhite bay, &c. 



BARTRAM'S VIREO, OR GREENLET. 



i- Vireo Bartrami, Swains. 

 PLATE CCXLIL— Male. 



This species has been named as above by my friend William Swainson, 

 Esq., from whom I received a specimen procured in Mexico, which cor- 

 responds in every respect with those which I have myself procured in the 

 States of New Jersey and Kentucky. I consider it as a species generally 

 overlooked in America, confounded with, or mistaken for, the Red-eyed 

 Vireo; but I have not been able to ascertain its range with us, although I 

 strongly suspect that it proceeds very far northward as well as westward. 



A remarkable difference between this and the Red-eyed Vireo is, that it 

 rarely if ever ascends even moderately tall trees, as the latter is wont to do, 

 but almost constantly remains in low and close thickets, in the manner of 

 the White-eyed Vireo, of the petulance and activity of which it also pos- 

 sesses a portion, as well as its disregard of the approach of man, or indeed 

 of any other intruder. I have not unfrequently remained a considerable 

 time, within a few yards of one, listening with delight to its sweetly varied 

 and plaintive notes, which it poured forth just as if no enemy were near, 

 and now and then peeped at me as if it wished that we were better 

 acquainted. 



The nest of this bird is seldom placed at a greater height from the ground 

 than four feet. In two instances I have found it attached to two strong 

 blades of coarse grass growing from beneath a thicket of brambles, not above 

 two feet from the earth. It is truly pensile, about three inches deep, and 

 formed wholly of slender grasses and fibrous roots. The eggs are usually 

 pure white, without any spots or dots. I have not been able to ascertain if 

 it breeds twice in the season, although I suspect it does. 



Vol. IV. 22 



