76 
VIREO GILVUS. 
84 . VIREO GILVUS, BONAPARTE. — MUSCICAPA MELODIA, WILSON. 
WARBLING FLYCATCHER. 
WILSON, PLATE XLII. FIG. II. 
This sweet little warbler is for the first time des- 
cribed. In its general appearance it resembles the red- 
eyed flycatcher ; but, on a close comparison, differs from 
that bird in many particulars. It arrives in Pennsyl- 
vania about the middle of April, and inhabits the thick 
foliage of orchards and high trees; its voice is soft, 
tender, and soothing, and its notes flow in an easy 
continued strain that is extremely pleasing. It is 
often heard among the weeping willows and Lombardy 
poplars of this city ; is rarely observed in the woods ; 
but seems particularly attached to the society of man. 
It gleans among the leaves, occasionally darting after 
winged insects, and searching for caterpillars ; and 
seems by its manners to partake considerably of the 
nature of the genus sylvia. It is late in departing, and 
I have frequently heard its notes among the fading 
leaves of the poplar in October. 
This little bird may be distinguished from all the 
rest of our songsters by the soft, tender, easy flow of 
its notes, while hid among the foliage. In these there 
is nothing harsh, sudden, or empliatical; they glide 
along in a kind of meandering strain, that is peculiarly 
its own. In May and June it may be generally heard 
in the orchards, the borders of the city, and around 
the farm house. 
This species is five inches and a half long, and eight 
inches and a half in extent ; bill, dull lead colour above, 
and notched near the point, lower, a pale flesh colour ; 
eye, dark hazel; line over the eye, and whole lower 
parts, white, the latter tinged with very pale greenish 
yellow near the breast ; upper parts, a pale green olive ; 
wings, brown, broadly edged with pale olive green ; 
tail, slightly forked, edged with olive; the legs and 
feet, pale lead; the head inclines a little to ash; no 
