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Range (Eastern North America westward)
Eastern North America; westward to British Columbia; breeds from the Gulf States to Labrador and Manitoba; winters in Central and South America.
Washington, very common S. R., Apl. 25 to Oct. 15. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 29 to Oct. 19. Cambridge, abundant S. R., May 10 to Sept. 10.
Nest, pensile, of strips of bark, bits of dead wood, paper, and plant down, firmly and smoothly interwoven, lined with finer strips of bark and vine tendrils, suspended from a forked branch, five to forty feet up. Eggs, three to four, white, with a few black or umber specks or spots about the larger end, *85 x 55.
This, the most common and generally distributed of our Vireos, is found alike in the shade trees of our lawns, in orchards, or woodlands. The conspicuous white line over the eye, with its black border, and the bird's red eye, are good characters by which to distinguish it from its relatives.
Wilson Flagg's description of the Red-eye to my mind exactly reflects the character of the bird and its song: "The Preacher is more generally known by his note, because he is incessant in his song, and particularly vocal during the heat of our long summer days, when only a few birds are singing. His style of preaching is not declamation. Though constantly talking, he takes the part of a deliberative orator, who explains his subject in a few words and then makes a pause for his hearers to reflect upon it. We might suppose him to be repeating moderately, with a pause between each sentence, 'You see it-you know it-do you hear me?-do you believe it?' All these strains are delivered with a rising inflection at the close, and with a pause, as if waiting for an answer."
VIREOS.
The YELLOW-GREEN VIREO (625. V. flavoviridis), a Mexican and Central American species, has been once recorded from Godbout, Province of Quebec. 626. Vireo philadelphicus (Cass.). PHILADELPHIA VIREO. Ad.- Upper parts light olive-green; the crown sometimes grayish; a whitish line over the eye; wings and tail edged with olive-green; no wing-bars; first primary nearly as long as second; entire under parts nearly uniform pale, greenish yellow. L., 4.75; W., 2.60; T., 1.95; B. from N., 26.