pointed out its peculiarities, claimed for it specific distinction, and named it after the city near which he first observed it. For many succeeding years it was again lost sight of, most likely because no one was looking for it, but as the number of collectors increased and rare birds were sought after, the species was again observed, and at far distant points, giving it an extensive range from north to south, and west to the middle of the continent. How relatively rare it is it would be unsafe to say, for it is difficult to identify it without close inspection, to accomplish which might require the slaughter of Warbling Vireos enough to excite the ire of the Audubon Club.

Some time in the early part of 1883, I took up casually the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, and read therein a charming article by Wm. Brewster on the distribution of this Vireo in the Eastern States. It showed the little bird to be more common and more widely distributed than was first supposed, and left on my mind the impression that it must pass through Ontario.

In May, when the Vireos began to arrive, I scrutinized them closely, and the first I shot on suspicion proved to be of this species, and was, I believe, the first record for Ontario. When seen in the woods it looked rather smaller than the Warbling Vireo, was more solid and compact in the plumage, and was noticeably tinged underneath with yellow. From these features in its general appearance, I have since recognized it both in spring and fall. I have also heard of its being taken at other points in Ontario, but have no record of its having been found breeding within the Province.

Since the above was written, it has been found by Mr. White at Ottawa, by Mr. Chamberlain at Edmonton, N.B., by Mr. Boardman at St. Stephens, N.B., and by Mr. Drexler at Moose Factory, H.B.T. These records show that it is widely distributed, but how abundant it may be, relatively, is still an uncertain point in its history.

VIREO GILVUS (VIEILL.)

258. Warbling Vireo. (627)

Primaries, ten, the exposed portion of the first of which is one-third or less of the second, no obvious wing bars, no blackish stripe along the side of the crown, and no abrupt contrast between color of back and crown; upper parts, greenish, with an ashy shade, rather brighter on the rump and edgings of the wings and tail, anteriorly shading insensibly into ashy on the crown. Ash of crown bordered immediately by a whitish superciliary and loral line; region immediately before and behind the eye, dusky ash; below, sordid white with faint yellowish (sometimes creamy or buffy) tinge, more obviously shaded

YELLOW-THROATED VIREO.

351

along the sides with a dilution of the color of the back; quills and tail feathers, fuscous, with narrow external edgings as above said, and broader whitish edging of the inner webs; the wing coverts without obvious whitish tipping ; bill, dark horn color above, paler below; feet, plumbeous; iris, brown. Length, 5 inches, or rather more; wing, 2.80; tail, 2.25; bill, .40; tarsus, .67. HAB.-North America in general, from the Fur Countries to Mexico.

Nest and eggs, closely resembling those of the Red-eye, but usually placed at a greater distance from the ground.

This amiable little songster is very common in Southern Ontario, from the end of the first week in May till the beginning of September. Although less abundant than the Red-eye, it is probably known to a greater number of people, owing to the preference it shows for isolated ornamental trees in parks and gardens and the shade trees in cities. Its song is soft, subdued and flowing, like the murmuring of "a hidden brook in the leafy month of June."

It has little excitement in its nature, and keeps its usual compoşure under circumstances which would drive most other birds off in alarm. I once saw one warbling forth its pleasing ditty in a shade tree, quite close to which a large fire was in progress. Firemen, engines, and crowds of people were all around, but the bird was to windward of the blaze and seemed to be commenting on the unnecessary excitement which prevailed.

SUBGENUS LANIVIREO BAIRD.

VIREO FLAVIFRONS (VIEILL.).

259.

Yellow-throated Vireo. (628)

Above, rich olive-green; crown, the same or even brighter; rump, insensibly shading into bluish-ash; below, bright yellow; belly and crissum, abruptly white; sides, anteriorly shaded with olive, posteriorly with plumbeous; extreme forehead, superciliary line and ring around eye, yellow; lores, dusky; wings, dusky, with the inner secondaries broadly white-edged, and two broad white bars across tips of greater and median coverts; tail, dusky, nearly all the feathers completely encircled with white edging; bill and feet, dark leaden blue; no spurious quill. Length, 53-6; wing, about 3; tail, only about 24. HAB.-Eastern United States, south, in winter, to Costa Rica.

The position and frame-work of the nest of this species is similar to that of the Red-eye, but its appearance and comfort are greatly increased by an artistic outside coating of gray moss, intertwisted with the silk of caterpillars.

The eggs are not with certainty distinguishable from those of the Red-eye.

This is a summer resident in Southern Ontario, but it is by no means common. It seems partial to the beech woods, and being

more retiring than the preceding and less noisy than the Red-eye, it is not much observed. It is by some considered the handsomest of all our Vireos, and a male in full spring plumage is pleasing to look at, but I prefer the succeeding species. The Yellow-throated Vireo, though not abundant, seems to be generally distributed throughout Ontario. It has been found at Ottawa by Mr. White; at London Mr. Saunders reports it as a common summer resident; and it is also included in Mr. Thompson's "List of Birds of Manitoba," where, however, it is mentioned as being rare or accidental. The female differs but little in plumage from the male, the colors being less decided.

VIREO SOLITARIUS (WILS.).

260. Blue-headed Vireo. (629)

Above, olive-green; crown and sides of head, bluish-ash in marked contrast, a broad white line from nostrils to and around eye and a dusky loral line; below, white; flanks washed with olivaceous, and auxiliaries and crissum, pale yellow; wings and tail, dusky, most of the feathers edged with white or whitish, and two conspicuous bars of the same across tips of middle and great coverts; bill and feet, blackish horn color. Length, 54-5; wing, 2-3; tail, 21-2; spurious quill, -, about as long as second.

HAB.-Eastern United States to the Plains. and Guatemala.

In winter, south to Mexico

Nest and eggs, similar to those of the other Vireos, resembling those of the Yellow-throat more than either of the others.

This is a stout, hardy-looking bird, apparently better adapted to live in the north than any other member of the family. It arrives from the south with the earliest of the Warblers, and in some years is quite common during the first half of May, after which it is not seen again till the fall. While here it is much among the evergreens, leisurely seeking its food, and is usually silent, but when at home it is said to have a very pleasant song.

Some of the specimens procured in spring are beautiful birds; the plumage is soft and silky, and the different shades of color delicate, but in others it is worn and ragged, as if they had been roughing it during the winter. Quite a number of these birds cross our southern border in spring and fall, but I have no record of their nesting in the Province. It is more of an eastern species, being rare in Michigan and Manitoba, but, according to Mr. Ridgway, "its known range during the breeding season extends from Eastern Massachusetts and the region along the northern border of the Great Lakes northward nearly to the limit of the tree growth."

261. Black and White Warbler. (636)

Entirely white and black, in streaks except on the belly; tail, white, spotted; wings, white barred, Length, about 5; wing, 2; tail, 24.

HAB.-Eastern United States to the Plains, north to Fort Simpson, south, in winter, to Central America and the West Indies.

Nest, on the ground, built of bark fibre, grass and leaves, lined with plant down or hair.

Eggs, four to six, creamy white, spotted and sprinkled with reddish-brown.

This dainty little bird, formerly known as the Black and White Creeper, has now been named the Black and White Warbler, but as it is much more given to creeping than to warbling, it is likely that with the ordinary observer it will retain its former name as long as it retains its creeping habit. It arrives in Southern Ontario during the last days of April, and even before the leaves are expanded, its neat, decided attire of black and white is observed in striking contrast to the dull colored bark of the trees, around which it goes creeping with wonderful celerity in search of its favorite insect food. It becomes very common during the first half of May, after which the numbers again decrease, many having passed farther north, and only a few remain to spend the summer and raise their young in Southern Ontario. The note of the male is sharp and penetrating, resembling the sound made in sharpening a fine saw.

The Black and White Warbler is a typical representative of the family of Wood-Warblers, which is remarkable for the number of its

members, as well as for the richness and variety of their dress. There is, perhaps, no group of small birds which so much interests the collector, or furnishes so many attractive specimens to his cabinet, as that we are now about to consider.

Some of the members of this family are so rare that the capture of one is the event of a lifetime. To get any of them in perfect plumage they must be collected during the spring migration, and that season is so short and uncertain that if a chance is missed in May, another may not occur for a year.

Game birds are followed by sportsmen with much enthusiasm and varying success, though Ruffed Grouse, Woodcock and Quail are now so scarce in the more settled parts of the country that it is hardly worth while searching for them.

Our inland lakes and rivers are, at certain seasons, visited by crowds of water-fowl, and the hunter, hidden behind his screen of rushes in the marsh, delights to hear the hoarse honking of an old gander as he leads on his A-shaped flock of geese, or to see the flocks of ducks wheeling around and pitching down into the open water beside his decoys. At Long Point and other shooting places where the ducks have been protected, the number killed in a day is often very large. Dull, windy weather with light showers of rain is preferred. If the hunter is fortunate in choosing a good point at which to screen his boat among the rushes, he may remain there all day, and if the ducks are moving about he needs only to load as quickly as he is able and kill as many as he can, the proof of his success being the number he brings home at night.

Not so with the field ornithologist, whose pursuits I have always felt to be more refined and elevating than those of the ordinary sportsman. As soon as the winter of our northern clime relaxes its grasp, and the season of flowers and brighter skies returns, he enters the woods as if by appointment, and hears among the expanding buds the familiar voice of many a feathered friend just returned from winter-quarters. The meeting is pleasant and the birds pass on. The walk is enjoyable, the bush is fragrant and freckled with early spring flowers. The loud warning note of the Great Crested Flycatcher is heard in the tree-tops; Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, etc., are there in brilliant plumage and full of life, but a note is heard or a glimpse is seen of something rare, and that is the time for the collector to exercise his skill. He must not fire when the bird is too close or he will destroy it. He must not let it get out of reach or he may lose it. He must not be flurried or he may miss it, and if he