152 



Fig. 129. YOUNG CEDARBIRDS. 



CUCKOOS. 



Two species of Cuckoos are commonly found in eastern 

 North America, the Black-billed and the Yellow-billed. The 

 former is the most abundant in the northern half of the 

 United States and the latter in the southern half. The two 

 species are very easily distinguished although beginners in 

 bird study often get them confused. The Yellow-billed 

 Cuckoo is the largest, has a yellow lower mandible and the 

 outer tail-feathers are black with broad white tips. The 

 Black-billed species has an entirely black bill and the tail 

 is a uniform olive-brown with narrow wliite tips to the outer 

 feathers. 



Both species build very shabby nests, — mere platforms of 

 a few twigs, usually lined with a few catkins. The eggs of 

 the Yellow-billed species are considerable larger and paler 

 colored than those of the other. Three or four eggs is a 

 normal set. These are deposited at very irregular inter- 

 vals, sometimes several days intervening between layings. 

 The bird often commences to set when only one egg is laid, 



