20 
TWENTY-SIX COMMON BIRDS. 
ance of the bird, it is true, is in no way striking, but its disposition 
is so familiar, its home so often near our home, and above all its 
song so attractive and incessant, that our ignorance of its existence 
must be considered something of a reflection on our power of ob¬ 
servation. The Redeye, as it is familiarly known, comes to New 
England in May, and until the end of August its song incessantly 
rises and falls from street trees, orchards and woodland. Its pen¬ 
sile nest, very familiar in the leafless woods in winter, is generally 
in a low forked twig. It is cleverly constructed of strips of bark, 
and generally lined with pine needles, often ornamented with bits 
of newspaper. Four white eggs, marked with brownish spots at 
the large end are laid in early June. The sitting bird allows a 
very near approach, her red iris being generally plainly visible, be¬ 
fore she leaves the nest. The sexes are alike. The note of the 
bird, when alarmed or annoyed, is a characteristic complaining 
drawl, and in early summer they have a chatter. The song is a 
repetition of short phrases, with all manner of variations in inflec¬ 
tion and form. It is cheerful and animated. The food of the Red¬ 
eye consists of insects which are gleaned from the leaves and twigs ; 
the service thus rendered by the bird is incalculable. The Red¬ 
eyes leave New England in September, and most of them winter 
outside the United States. 
BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER, 23, 
[mniotilta varia.] 
This bird keeps so constantly in woodland that despite its 
peculiar and striking appearance, it is not well known. Its habit of 
searching for its insect food along the large limbs of trees, peering 
now over one side and then over the other, has also obtained for it 
the name Black and White Creeper. Like most of its family, it 
winters in tropical America, but it reaches New England toward the 
middle of April, when its peculiar song is heard in the leafless 
woods, wee~see , wee-see , wee-see , very shrill and penetrating. The 
female is much less brightly marked than the male. The nest is 
