78 
V1REO OLIVACEUS. 
glued together with the saliva of the bird, and the silk 
of caterpillars, so as to be very compact; the inside is 
lined with fine slips of grape vine bark, fibrous grass, 
and sometimes hair. These nests are so durable, that 
1 have often known them to resist the action of the 
weather for a year ; and, in one instance, I have found 
the nest of the yellow bird built in the cavity of one 
of those of the preceding year. The mice very often 
take possession of them after they are abandoned by the 
owners. The eggs are four, sometimes five, pure white, 
except near the great end, where they are marked with 
a few small dots of dark brown or reddish. They gene- 
rally raise two brood in the season. 
The red-eyed flycatcher is one of the adopted nurses 
of the cow bird, and a very favourite one, shewing all 
the symptoms of affection for the foundling, and as 
much solicitude for its safety, as if it were its own. A 
particular account of the history of that singular bird 
has already been given. 
Before I take leave of this bird, it may not be amiss 
to observe that there is another, and a rather less 
species of flycatcher, somewhat resembling the red-eyed, 
which is frequently found in its company. Its eyes are 
hazel ; its back more cinereous than the other, and it 
has a single light streak over the eye. The notes of 
this bird are low, somewhat plaintive, but warbled out 
with great sweetness; and form a striking contrast 
with those of the red-eyed flycatcher. I think it pro- 
bable that Dr Barton had reference to this bird when he 
made the follo wing remarks, (see his Fragments of the 
Natural History of Pennsylvania, page 19) : — “ Mus- 
cicapa olivacea. — I do not think with Mr Pennant 
that this is the same bird as the whip-tom-kelly of the 
West Indies. Our bird has no such note ; but a great 
variety of soft, tender, and agreeable notes. It inhabits 
forests ; and does not, like the West India bird, build a 
pendulous nest.” Had the learned professor, however, 
examined into this matter with his usual accuracy, he 
would have found, that the muscicapa olivacea, and 
the soft and tender songster he mentions, are two very 
