VIREOS 
425 
chiefly at the larger end, with reddish brown, *78 X ‘55. Date , British 
Honduras, Apl. 23 (Thayer Coll.). 
This is a not uncommon summer resident in southern Florida, 
arriving from its winter home in Central America early in May. Its 
song resembles that of the Red-eyed Vireo, but is somewhat more hesi- 
tating and emphatic. 
624. Vireosylva oiivacea ( Linn .). Red-eyed Vireo. Ads.— Crown 
slaty gray, bordered on either side by blackish; a conspicuous white line over 
the eye ; rest of the upperparts, wings, and tail light olive-green ; no wing- 
bars; underparts pure white. Iris red in ad., brown in im. L., 6*23; W., 3*20; 
T., 2*20; B. from N., *40. 
Remarks . — The well-defined slaty gray cap, bordered by narrow black 
lines, are the best distinguishing marks of this species. 
Range. — N. and S. Am. Breeds in Canadian, Transition, and Austral 
zones from cen. B. C., s. Mackenzie, s. Keewatin, n. Ont., Anticosti Is., and 
Cape Breton Is. s. to se. Wash., s. 
Mont., e. Wyo., e. Colo., w. Tex., n. 
Coahuila, and cen. Fla.; winters in 
S. A. 
Washington, very common S. R., 
Apl. 21-Oct. 17. Ossining, common S. 
R., Apl. 29-Oct. 19. Cambridge, 
abundant S. R., May 10-Sept. 10. N. 
Ohio, abundant S. R., Apl. 27-0 ct. 1. 
Glen Ellyn, common S. R., May 5- 
Oct. 5. SE. Minn., common S. R., 
May 5-Sept. 15. 
Nest, pensile, of strips of bark, bits 
of dead wood, paper, and plant-down, 
firmly and smoothly interwoven, lined 
with finer strips of bark and vine tendrils, suspended from a forked branch, 
5-40 feet up. Eggs, 3-4, white, with a few black or umber specks or spots 
about the larger end, *85 x *55. Date, D. C., May 26; Cambridge, May 28; 
Mt. Carmel, Ills., May 23; se. Minn., May 29. 
This, the most common and generally distributed of our Vireos, is 
found alike in the shade trees of our lawns, in orchards, or woodlands. 
The conspicuous white line over the eye, with its black border, and the 
bird’s red eye, and its frequently uttered, complaining note, a nasal 
whang, are good characters by which to distinguish it from its relatives. 
Wilson Flagg’s description of the Red-eye to my mind exactly 
reflects the character of the bird and its song: “The Preacher is more 
generally known by his note, because he is incessant in his song, and 
particularly vocal during the heat of our long summer days, when only 
a few birds are singing. His style of preaching is not declamation. 
Though constantly talking, he takes the part of a deliberative orator, 
who explains his subject in a few words and then makes a pause for 
his hearers to reflect upon it. We might suppose him to be repeating 
moderately, with a pause between each sentence, ‘You see it — you 
know it — do you hear me? — do you believe it?’ All these strains are 
delivered with a rising inflection at the close, and with a pause, as if 
waiting for an answer.” 
1905. Herrick, F. H., Home-Life of Wild Birds, 103-114. 
Fig. 112. Red-eyed Vireo. 
(Natural size.) 
