286 SHARP-TAILED FINCH.
brown, marked with brownish-black streaks. The middle of the breast
and the abdomen greyish-white, tinged with yellowish-brown.
Length 5£ inches, extent of wings 7£ ; bill along the back along
the edge ft ; tarsus
The different species can be readily distinguished by attending to the
above particulars. Macgillivray's Finch is in size intermediate between
the other two, and in colouring it resembles both, as has been stated above.
When the three are together it is very easy to distinguish that species
from the rest, by the greater length of the bill and tarsus, and the greater
breadth of the black band along the middle of each tail-feather. In all
the species, the bills of individuals differ greatly in length, old birds having
them much longer than younger ones.
In the republication of WILSON'S Ornithology, by Sir WILLIAM JARDINE,
Bart., the editor makes the following statement.—" Mr AUDUBON
has figured a bird very closely allied in plumage, under the name
of Ammodramwi Henslowii, and, in the letterpress, has described it
as Henslow's Bunting, Emberiza Hai.sloici'i. It will evidently come under
the first genus, and if new and distinct, will form a third North
American species. It is named after Professor HEXSLOW of Cambridge,
and was obtained near Cincinnati. There is no account of its history and
habits."—Vol. ii. p. 78. I have already shown that the species is a perfectly
distinct one, but its affinities are not with Ammodramus. During
my last three years' rambles in the United States, my friends, my assistants,
and myself, procured hundreds of specimens of the Henslow's
Bunting, and gained much information respecting its habits, which are
totally different from those of Fringilla caudacuta or F. maritima. The
HENSLOW Bunting is never found near salt water marshes, as these species
always are, but spends its life on dry elevated meadows and in sandy
open pine forests, where it passes the winter in the Southern and Western
Districts. As to the similarity of colouring alluded to, I cannot see the
least resemblance between the birds in question, in that respect, more
than in size or shape. This might have become apparent, had he compared
my figure of the Henslow Bunting with that given by WILSON
which in my humble opinion is incorrect. I have not represented the
nest of F. maritima along with my figures of that bird, although this
has been asserted.
T H E RED-EYED VIREO.
VlREO OLIVACEUS, BoNAP.
P L A T E CL. MALE.
One o f the principal differences between the habits o f this and some
other species, which are now called Vireos, and the Flycatchers, is, that
the former procure their food principally by moving about, and along the
branches or the twigs of the trees, by light hops, alternately changing
sides, reaching and securing their prey by an elastic extension of the
legs and neck, without the continual snapping or clicking of the bill so
common among the Muscicapas on such occasions, and that they seldom
make sorties on the wing to any distance, for the purpose of seizing the
insects on which they usually feed. This habit is retained until autumn,
when, insects being scarce, the Vireo sallies forth to a short distance in
pursuit of them, as they may chance to pass near the tree on which, in
the silent mood of a Flycatcher, it stands erect, using the watchful sideglances
peculiar to its tribe, as it anxiously expects the passage of its
prey. Another difference is, that Vireos are generally more musical,
lively and gay, than Flycatchers, so that their society is more welcome t o
man; and, as if fully conscious of their superiority in this respect, and
knowing that they commit no depredations upon his fruit or bees, calculated
to arouse his anger, they often suffer him to approach with a carelessness
that evidently proves the simplicity of their nature. The third
great difference between the Vireos and Flycatchers is, that the former
seldom, if ever, go down from the trees to the water, for the purpose of
drinking; while the latter are often seen gliding closely over rivers and
pools, from which they sip their drink. The Vireos quench their thirst
with the drops of dew or rain that adhere to the leaves or twigs. I might
add, that the quivering motions of the wings in Flycatchers when alighted,
is not exhibited by the Vireos, at least has never been observed by
me. On the other hand, the affinity existing between the Vireos and
Muscicapge is indicated by their being equally possessed of the power of
regurgitation.
The Red-eyed Flycatcher is an inhabitant of the whole of our forests.
Now you hear its sweet, unaffected, musical, loud and free warble, from