A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS 
£03 
The Vireos are a very interesting family, which, though it 
may be somewhat overlooked in the general spring chorus, 
comes to the front in the latter part of May. Of the six 
Vireos that inhabit New England, five are reasonably plenti- 
ful, and of these the Red-eyed is the most familiar. You 
cannot fail to name this Vireo, for he is omnipresent ; if you 
do not see him, you hear him ; if he chances to be silent, which 
seldom happens, he peers at you with his sparkling, ruby 
eyes that look out between a white line and a brown stripe. 
Wilson Flagg has forever identified him with the name of the 
Preacher , in reference to his elocutionary powers. “ You see 
T — you know it, — do you hear me? Do you believe it?” 
he hears the Vireo say, and if you keep these words in your 
mind you will recognize the bird the first time that you hear 
his song. 
RED-EYED VIREO 
When overhead you hear a bird 
Who talks, or rather, chatters, 
Of all the latest woodland news, 
And other trivial matters, 
Who is so kind, so very kind, 
She never can say no, 
And so the nasty Cowbird 
Drops an egg among her row 
Of neat white eggs. Behold her then, 
The Red-eyed Vireo ! 
— Faith C. Lee in Bird-Lore 
Family Laniidae: Shrikes 
Northern Shrike: Lanius borealis. W. V. 
Butcher-bird 
Length: 9-10.50 inches. 
Male and Female: Powerful head, neck, and blackish beak with 
hooked point. Above bluish ash, lighter on the rump and shoul- 
ders. Wide black bar on each side of head from the eye back- 
ward. Below light gray with a brownish cast, broken on breast 
and sides by waved lines of darker gray. Wings and tail black, 
edged and tipped with white. Large white spot on wings, white 
tips and edges to outer quills of tail. Legs bluish black. 
Song: A call note, and in its breeding-haunts a sweet, warbling song. 
Season: A roving winter resident; seen from November to April. 
Breeds: North of the United States. 
Nest: In a low bush; a basis of sticks, upon which is matted and felted 
