RED-EYED VIREO, OR FLYCATCHER. 313 
Vireo arrives in Pennsylvania late in April, and in New 
England about the beginning of May. It inhabits the 
shady forests or tall trees near gardens and the suburbs 
of villages, where its loud, lively, and energetic song is 
often continued, with little intermission, for several hours 
at a time, as it darts and pries among the thick foliage 
in quest of insects and small caterpillars. From its first 
arrival, until August, it is the most distinguishable warb- 
ler of the forest, and when almost all the other birds 
have become mute, its notes are still heard with unabat- 
ed vigor. Even to the 5th of October, still enlivened by 
the feeble rays of the sun, he faintly recalls his song, and 
plaintively tunes a farewell to his native woods. His 
summer notes are uttered in short, emphatical bars, of 2 
or 3 syllables, and have something in them like the sim- 
ple lay of the Thrush or American Robbin when he first 
earnestly and slowly commences his song. He often makes 
use, in fact, of the same expressions, but his tones are 
more monotonous as well as mellow and melodious, like 
the rest of the Virens. In moist and dark summer 
weather, his voice seems to be one continued, untiring 
warble of exquisite sweetness ; and in the most populous 
and noisy streets of Boston, his shrill and tender lay is 
eommonly heard from the tall Elms ; and as the bustle 
of carts and carriages attempt to drown his voice, he 
elevates his pipe with more vigor and earnestness, as if 
determined to be heard in spite of every discord. The 
call of “ Whip- Tom-kelly ” attributed to this species 
by Sloane and even Wilson, I have never heard, and, 
common as the species is throughout the Union, the most 
lively or accidental fit of imagination never yet, in this 
country, conceived of such an association of sounds. I 
have already remarked, indeed, that this singular call is, 
in fact, sometimes uttered by the Tufted Titmouse. 
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