Another Nest of the Philadelphia Vireo. — I was very much interested 
in William Brewster’s paper relative to Vireo fihiladelfikicus, owing to the 
fact of having personally found an occupied nest of the species. With a 
view to helping along the good cause by one more step toward establish- 
ing the average nesting site I take the liberty of submitting my experi- 
ence. 1 he exact date is not known, but it was during a sojourn in Lee- 
lanau County, Michigan, extending from the rzth to the 21st of August, 
1S90 At that particular point the rocks arose from the water edge of 
Traverse Bay, on an angle of 45 degrees, until a height of 30 feet was 
attained; then came a level stretch of three to four hundred yards densely 
covered with blackberry bushes, and terminating at the base of a perpen- 
dicular bluff about fifteen feet high. The top of this bluff was covered 
with a second growth of poplar that in turn margined a forest of large 
white pine trees. We ran a survey line through this poplar belt and it 
was here I discovered the nest, and quite accidentally, as I was not look- 
ing for nests so late in the season. The nest was suspended from the 
horizontal crotch of a poplar branch which overhung the bluff, but was 
not more than five feet higher than the bluff top, and I could easily reach 
into it. In shape, size and construction it resembled the establishment 
of Vireo olivaceus but the exterior was thickly covered with curly pieces of 
silvery white poplar bark, suggesting, at a short distance, the structure of 
V. ftavif roiis. The male was not seen, but the female was in evidence 
and fearless, often approaching to within four or five feet of me. The 
species was recognized at first glance, indeed, it cannot be mistaken by 
anyone who has handled the skins. The nest contained two young, but 
as I reached for them they fluttered out and flew about fifty yards before 
striking the level of the berry bushes below. This find cannot, of course, 
be considered strictly authentic, as the birds were not secured, but person* 
ally I am as positive of the identity as of that of the Passer domesticus 
that perched upon the window sill a few moments ago. — J. Claire 
Wood, Detroit , Michigan. Auk, XXI, Apr. , 1904, p, £ 2 X . 
The Philadelphia Vireo. — Mr. William Brewster’s article on this vireo 
in ‘ The Auk,’ 1903, pp. 369-376, is very full and interesting, but at the 
same time throws discredit and lack of accuracy on other observers. For 
example, I am absolutely certain that the nest I took at Lansdowne, Ont., 
in 1895, was not a Red-eyed Vireo’s; at the same time I am as positive as 
it is possible to be without having the bird in hand that it belonged to the 
Philadelphia Vireo. 
Mr. Brewster assumes that I do not know the Red-eyed Vireo. I prob- 
ably know it as well as he does ; as it is a very common bird in Ontario, 
and not a year passes but that I see its nest. This year, for example, 
I found a nest in a small maple. I watched the birds closely to be sure 
of the species, and noted the habits of the pair. This pair was very shy 
and retiring, whereas the pair of vireos I noted at Lansdowne, in 1895, 
were demonstrative and noisy. The location was very different as was 
the finish of the nest, the latter being smaller and not so well finished off 
and adjusted as the first. I knew from the location mv birds were not 
Warbling Vireos, for which the location was not adapted, — a rough pas- 
ture field with swampy places grown up with willow, spruce, etc., and 
in the drier places, poplar, and no large woods near. 
A characteristic of my nest was the presence of shreds of birch bark, 
which as there were no birch trees near, must have been brought from 
some distance. I am quite satisfied, in spite of Mr. Brewster’s strictures, 
with my nest and its identification, which was a careful one, just as he no 
doubt feels satisfied that he has the first authentic nest and eggs of that 
species on record. 
With regard to the yellow shading of the breast, Mr. Brewster must 
know that the intensity of coloring in both vireos and warblers is a very 
uncertain element. — C. J. Young, Sharbot Lake , Ontario , Can. 
Auk, XXI, Apr. , 1904, p. X2 2 
