St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-06-09
st. cJuhnsburp Galeduniarl.
The Preacher, Or Red-Eyed
VireO.

MIN III Aiitll iiipAiphof
in their form and plumage, or more in
teresting in their ways, than the vireos.
They seem to occupy an intermediate
space between the sylvias and the fly
catchers, but resemble the sylvias in
their methods of foraging. Only two
of the genus are common in Massachu-
sets, and these two are the most in
teresting of all. The subject of my
present sketch is the red-eyed vireO.
1t is amusing to watch the bird as it
creeps adroitly over the branches, care
fully examining the under side of every
leaf, and Selling the insects with I'M
failing precision. This is the method
of the sylvias the fiycatchers take all
their prey while it is on the wing.
The rcd-eyed vireos were formerly
very numerous in our cities and towns,
making their homes in the tall elms,
naples and ash trees that skirt the
roadsides and shade public and pri
vate grounds. At any time of the day,
from May till September, we might
hear as we passed along the road one
OF more of them warbling among the
lofty branches while diligently collect
ing their insect food. Parties occupy
ing the seats under the trees on the
Common III Boston on pleasant sum
mer moons, would listen with delight
to their cheerful notes, delivered with
out any long intermissiOns, from morn
ing till night; and it was not often
they obtain "A glimpse of the seemingly
invisible songster.
But we seldom hear one these days,
except in the borders of woods. Since
the English sparrOws were introduced,
and have multiplied to such prodigiOus
excess, the vireos have disappeared
not that the sparrows have driven
them away, but that the vireos refuse
to associate with them, or to remain in
a neighborhood where they exist.
Neither are they snObs for "A snob, in
selecting his associates, thinks only of
consideration" They have done as
we should do if we were invaded by a
colony of YahoOs Outnumbering our
own people. If we could not destroy
had invaded. The virco does not be
licve in the equality Of races, probably
because he has never read DIR. Pritch-
ard.
| will confess therefore, that | feel a
singular respect for the .vireo, on ac-
count of the regard he shows for his
own offspring 10y fleeing his country
rather than to allow them to be reared
in the company ofan inferior race. Con
slider for ii moment the grievance OF
the vireOs, melodious sOngsters, haunt
ed forever by the presence of IA host of
yauping, jabbering and quarreling
birds beneath their orchestra, like a
"Callithumpian band of antiques and
horriblcs' serenading outside at Il pri-
waite concert. Birds that never utter
a musical note are assembled under
the green trees, where the vireOs have
made their abode for centuries, and
drown their music 10y Il seeming mock
cry.
Let us not he surprised, therefore,
at the disappearance of these beautiful
birds, and of many others equally
beautiful and interesting, who in
stead of minding Wendell Phillips,
have chosen to follow the example OF
the vireos. A birds song is designed
by nature as Il charming reminder to
the female of the presence of her mate,
and as means by which she might
determine his Whereabouts when seek
ing his company. | can easily imag-
inc, therefore, that singing birds would
be unable to endure in their resorts
any continual noises that entirely over
whem their song. They are delighted,
like human beings, with the signs of
life and gladness, and they sing more
loudly and cheerfully when they hear
other songsters about them and other
agreeable sounds. But ought we to
expect their aerial choirs, that MARBLE
in praise of the gentle mother of dews
and flowers, would consent to remain
in their chosen sylvan haunt, after its
conditions were so changed that their
voices were obliterated like the sound
of a shepherds pipe in the midst of a
rattling hailstorm
There is another important view to
be taken of their sad case. The red
eyed vireo is a religious bird and a
preacher. Listen to him few mo-
ments at any time, and you will be con-
WINGED that he is talking. He says a
few words, then pauses as if to DELHI
crate or to watch their effect on his
hearers, then utters few more, stops
To capture an insect, speaks two OF
three more words. aud continues talk
ing in this way, often an hour or halt
day. He is no declaimer: he is not
voluble like the bobolink, and never
delivers a song that might not be
measured by three syllables. Nuttall,
who speaks of it as a flood of gushing
melody poured forth in rapid stream
for several seconds, described the song
of the purple finch installing it for that
of the vireo. Ornithologists are very
correct, undoubtedly, when they de-
scribe a birds toes and talons; but
they commit many egregious blunders
when describing its notes. Even Sam
uels, who is seldom incorrect in his