FOOD HABITS OF THE VIREOS 
21 
SUMMARY 
The economic value of the blue-headed vireos rests largely upon 
their work in the consumption of caterpillars, moths, and hemipter- 
ans. Their destruction of ladybird beetles is to be regretted. The 
balance of favor, however, swings to the birds because of the over- 
whelming predominance of injurious forms in the food. 
THE WHITE-EYED VIREOS 
Vireo griseus, subspp. 
The white-eyed vireos, in their subspecies, are locally common over 
the greater part of the eastern United States and Mexico. They are 
preeminently dwellers in damp, dense underbrush, one of their fa- 
vored types of retreat being impenetrable growths of catbrier. In 
such places, during the proper season, one may hear the birds giving, 
in addition to their own song, impromptu imitations of other birds. 
The nest is similar to that constructed by the red-eyed vireo, but is 
placed lower, usually from 2 to 5 feet from the ground. 
In the Biological Survey's collection of stomachs are 22,1 of this 
species suitable for tabulation. Eight others, nearly empty, afforded 
additional information concerning food items. These were collected 
over the entire range of the bird during the first 10 months of the 
year. Vegetable matter plays a much more important part in the 
economy of the species than in the case of either the yellow-throated 
or blue-headed vireos, but slightly less than in that of the red-eye, 
amounting to 11.76 per cent of the em tire food. (See fig. 7.) 
sfOA/r/vLy £&0*L 0/= ~ *v&£& <?/?/&£: c/& 
Fig. 7.— Monthly proportions of the various items in the food of the white-eyed vireos (Vireo griseus, 
subspp.), based on the analysis of the contents of 221 stomachs, with the average of each item for the 
. year 
50209— 25f 4 
