522 
ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF OUR BIRDS. 
but it often pursues and captures on the wing the moths and other insects which 
it startles from their hiding places beneath the leaves. A departure fiom its 
usual habits leads it occasionally from the woods and groves into adjoining 
wheat-fields, where it feeds upon chinch-bugs. This departure is a very desiiable 
one, but it is doubtful whether, even with a generous planting of shade-tiees, 
this species can become sufficiently abundant to render any appreciable seivice 
in this direction, but its ability to render service in other directions is veiy gieat. 
It is almost exclusively insectivorous and particularly fond of caterpillars, both 
naked and hairy, and other larvae. These birds are often the foster parents of 
the Cowbird. 
Food: From the stomachs of eighteen of this species were taken fifteen cater¬ 
pillars, five other larvae; eight beetles — among them five weevils, one long¬ 
horn and one darkling beetle; seventy heteropterous insects among them 
sixty-seven chinch-bugs ; sixteen winged ants, one ichneumon (?), five dragon¬ 
flies, two dipterous insects — one of them Tabanus atratus; three small moths, 
two grasshoppers, one aphis, one chrysalid, two spiders, and seven dogwood 
berries. Of thirty-six other specimens examined, fifteen had eaten caterpillaxs; 
two, other larvae; nine, beetles — among them two Coccinella^ mali; three, 
grasshoppers; two, ants; two, moths; four, insects, none of which were iden¬ 
tified; and seven, fruits or seeds, among which were raspberries, dogwood ber¬ 
ries. berries of prickly ash and sheep-berries. 
Insects and berries (De Kay). Caterpillars, noxious larvm and winged insects 
(Samuels). Canker-worm (Maynard). Caterpillars (Forbes). 
70. ViREO Philadelphicus, Cass. BROTHERLY-LOVE VIREO. Group II. 
Class a. 
Mr. Kumlien is said to have been familiar with this little-known species since 
1849, and to have taken specimens of it every year since that period. Mr. Nelson 
also speaks of it as a common migrant in Northeastern Illinois between May 
15th and 25th and September 5th and 25th. It has not been my good fortune to 
obtain it, and I am confident that I have not mistaken it for the next species. It 
is not known to stay with us during the summer, and its nest and eggs are 
unknown. 
71. ViREO GiLVUS(ViEiLL.), Bp. WARBLING VIREO; WARBLING GREEN- 
LET. Group I. Class b. 
This species is a common summer resident, arriving about the 10th of May 
and retiring again by the 20th of September. So far as its favorite haunts are 
concerned, it is the exact counterpart of the Red-eyed Vireo, the shaded streets 
of cities, nurseries, orchards and the vicinity of dwellings being its favorite 
resorts. It also frequents the willow clumps of marshes and groves, but is rarely 
seen in the depths of the forests. It is, therefore, peculiarly adapted to thickly 
settled districts, and when properly protected and encouraged it may be expected 
to become abundant. The character of its food and its method of obtaming it 
are similar to those of the Red-eyed Vireo. No abundance which it is likely to 
assume can cause it to become injurious, and a pair of these birds breeding m 
an orchard are to be guarded with the same care as the choicest tree. 
Food: Of sixteen specimens examined, eight had eaten ttiirty-four caterpillars; 
two live beetles, among which were a ladj-hii’d ('Coccinella 9-notafaJ, and a 
rDiabrotica duodecim-punctata); three, three heteropterous insects; two, two 
crane-flies; one, grasshoppers; two, twenty-eight insect eggs; and one, dogwood 
berries. 
