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T H E WHITE-EYED FLY-CATCHER, OR V I R E O.
VlREO NOVEBORACENSIS, CH. B O N A P.
P L A T E L X I I I . MALE.
THIS interesting little bird enters the State of Louisiana often as early
as the 1st of March. Indeed, some individuals may now and then be seen
a week or ten days sooner, provided the weather be mild. It throws itself
into the thickest part of the briars, sumachs, and small evergreen bushes,
which form detached groves in abandoned fields, where its presence is at
once known by the smartness of its song. This song is composed of many
different notes, emitted with great spirit, and a certain degree of pomposity,
which makes it differ materially from that of all other Fly-catchers.
It is frequently repeated during the day.
These birds become at once so abundant, that it would be more difficult
not to meet one, than to observe a dozen or more, during a morning
walk. Their motions are as animated as their music. They pass from
twig to twig, upwards or downwards, examining every opening bud and
leaf, and securing an insect or a larva at every leap. Their flight is short,
light, and easy. Their migrations are performed during the day, and by
passing from one low bush to another, for these birds seldom ascend to
the tops of even moderately tall trees. Like all our other visitors, they
move eastward as the season opens, and do not reach the Middle States
before the end of April, or the beginning of May. Notwithstanding this
apparently slow progress, they reach and disperse over a vast expanse of
country. I have met with some in every part of the United States which
I have visited.
Many remain in Louisiana, where they rear two broods, perhaps sometimes
three, in a season. Of this, however, I am not quite certain. I
never saw them alight on the ground, unless for the purpose of drinking,
or of procuring fibrous roots for their nests. They are fond of sipping
the dew drops that hang at the extremities of leaves, Their sorties after
insects seldom extend beyond the bushes.
About the first of April, the White-eyed Fly-catcher forms a nest of
dry slender twigs, broken pieces of grasses, and portions of old hornets''
WHITE-EYED FLY-CATCHER. 3 2 9
nests, which have so great a resemblance to paper, that the nest appears
as if studded with bits of that substance. It is lined with fine fibrous
roots, and the dried filaments of the Spanish moss. The nest is of the
form of an inverted cone, and is fastened to two or three twigs of a Green
Briar, a species of Smilax abundant in the old fields and along the fences.
The eggs are from four to six, of a pure white, with a few dark spots near
the larger end. In those districts where the Cow-bird is found, it frequently
drops one of its eggs among them. I have seen the first brood
from the nest about the middle of May. Unless when disturbed while
upon its nest, this bird is extremely sociable, and may be approached
within a few feet; but when startled from the nest, it displays the
anxiety common to almost all birds on such occasions. The difference of
colour in the sexes is scarcely perceptible.
The figure of a male has been given on a branch of the tree called in
Louisiana the Pride of China, an ornamental plant, with fragrant flowers.
The wood is extremely valuable on account of its great durability, and is
employed for making posts and rails for the fences. Being capable of
receiving a beautiful polish, it is also frequently made into various articles
of furniture. For these reasons, the planters have found it expedient to
adopt measures for increasing the propagation of this tree. It bears a
pulpy fruit inclosing a hard seed, which is swallowed by different birds
during the winter months. It has been thought deleterious, but without
reason. A decoction of the root is used by the planters as an effectual
vermifuge.
V I R E O N O V E B O B A C E N S I S , Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 70.
M U S C I C A P A N O V E B O R A C E N S I S , Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. Q¥l.-—Lalh. Ind. Ornith.
voL ii. p. 489.
H A N G I N G F L Y - C A T C H E R , Lath. Synops. SuppL p. 174.
W H I T E - E Y E D F L Y - C A T C H E R , M U S C I C A P A C A N T A T R I X , IVils. Amer. Ornith. voL ii.
p. 266. PI. 18. Fig. 6.
Adult Male. Plate LXIII.
Bill shortish, nearly straight, rather strong, conico-acuminate, compressed
towards the end ; upper mandible slightly notched, and a little
deflected at the tip; lower mandible ascending at the tip. Nostrils basal,
rounded. Head and neck of ordinary size; body rather slender. Feet