RED-EYED VIDEO. 
79 
like the back, dark brown. Top of head, slaty-blue. Superciliary stripe, dirty white, preceded above by a narrow 
line of black. A dusky line extends from the base of the bill, through the eye, to some distance behind it. Under 
parts, pure white, with the sides, flanks, under wing coverts, axillaries and under tail coverts, greenish. Irides, red. 
Adult female, and young in all stages, similar, but paler, with the black markings about the head often nearly 
obsolete. The irides are quite brown, especially in the young. In all stages the bill is dark brown on the upper 
mandible, and bluish on the lower. The feet are blue. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Readily known from all other Vireos by the slaty-blue head, accompanied by the white and black superciliary 
line. At one time I was inclined to consider the V. barbatula as a valid species, but after carefully studying 
southern-born Vireos and comparing them with more northern specimens of the same species, find there is but one 
character upon which barbatula can be consistently based; this is the dusky maxillary Stripe, which, in the specimen 
before me, taken in Cuba and kindly loaned me by the Smithsonian Institute, is barely perceptible. The size of the 
bill is nothing more than might be expected from its southern range. In fact I have skins of V. Noveboracensis, 
from Key West, where they were evidently resident, that exhibit as great proportional differences in length. The 
under mandibles of these are considerably swollen, giving the bills a wider appearance; the tips are also elongated. 
These peculiarities are what give the barbatula its large bill. Southern Noveboracensis are rather more dusky than 
those from the North, but as there are no indications of a maxillary line this duskiness may not take that form. I 
have never seen any northern V. olivaceus with any dusky maxillary lines, or any approach to one, yet I think could 
birds be taken breeding in intermediate localities they would exhibit traces of it, thereby forming the connecting 
links. Although I am now inclined to consider barbatula and olivaceus as one speoies, I have scarcely seen enough 
of the former, or a sufficient series of the latter from more southern localities, to render this decisiou final; but as 
the two, if really separate, must closely agree in habit, choose to consider them as one for the present. Distributed 
during summer throughout eastern North America west to the Rocky Mountains, wintering in the West Indies and 
South America. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurement of sixteen specimens. Length, 6-25; stretch, 10-10; wing, 3-25; tail, 2-25; bill, -53; 
tarsus, -63. Longest specimen, 6-50; greatest extent of wings, 10-65; longest wing, 3-48; tail, 3-00; bill, -55; tarsus, 
•65. Shortest specimen, 6-00; smallest extent of wings, 9-88; shortest wing, 3-20; tail, 2-10; bill, -56; tarsus, -60. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, pensile, placed in trees or bushes. Composed of strips of bark or dried grasses, while the whole is 
neatly overlaid with cobwebs; lined with finer grasses. Dimensions: external diameter, 3 inches, internal, 2; 
external depth, 2, internal, 1-50. 
Eggs, four in number, oval in form, pure white in color, spotted rather sparsely with deep umber. Dimensions, 
from -85 x -60 to -80 x -55. 
HABITS. 
Throughout the entire extent of New England, even in the immediate vicinity of the larger 
cities, are patches of woodland of varied extent, and many of them are composed of ancient trees 
which once partly formed the vast primeval forest that in former times overspread the land. 
It is very pleasant in summer to wander beneath the shades of these sylvan patriarchs ; for, no 
matter how brightly the sun maybe shining upon the broad open fields and meadows, the moment 
we enter the woods we seem transported to another sphere. Without, the air is hot and dry ; 
now, a cool, refreshing breeze sweeps through the dimly lighted vistas, slightly moving the 
ferns which grow at the bases of the gigantic trunks that stretch their arms high overhead, 
where the deep green foliage sweeps to and fro disclosing glimpses of the blue sky. A murmur 
pervades the air, caused by the rustling leaves, the hum of insects and the songs of birds. The 
experienced ear at once detects the notes of the various Thrushes and those of other species, but 
the last one noticed will be that of the Redded Vireo. There may be several of these birds 
singing at one time quite near, yet so nearly do the gently given lays accord with the general 
harmony around, that they mingle with the whole and are not observed, but when a Yireo that 
has been continually singing pauses for a moment, its voice is missed and one is apt to notice 
when it commences again. 
When the attention is attracted and one wishes to see the author of these melodious strains, 
it is exceedingly difficult to catch sight of the little green-backed birds for they generally remain 
