BARTRAM’S YIREO. 
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, white bay, &c. 
BARTRAM’S YIREO, OR G-REENLET. 
Vireo Bartrami, Swains. 
PLATE CCXLII.— Male. 
This species has been named as above by my friend William Swainsok, 
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 
Yireo ; 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 Yireo 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 Yireo, 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 1 suspect it does. 
Yol. IY. 22 
